Ian Machado Garry and Khabib Nurmagomedov are connected through one fight. Khabib coaches Islam Makhachev, and Makhachev defends his welterweight title against Garry at UFC 330 on August 15. Khabib recently called Garry a difficult matchup for his student. That warning matters because Khabib rarely praises his opponents’ threats in public.
Why Khabib Is Talking About Garry at All
Khabib 29-0-0 does not hand out compliments to his student’s opponents. He said Makhachev’s camp has never prepared for someone Garry’s size. Garry stands 6-foot-4, taller than any fighter Makhachev has faced in his UFC run. That height gap forces a different game plan than the one that has worked for sixteen straight wins.
Khabib broke down exactly why height matters here. He said Makhachev’s team will have to chase Garry down, close the distance, and drag the fight to the ground. That sounds simple. Against a fighter who moves as well as Garry does, closing distance burns rounds and energy fast.
What This Means for the Actual Fight
Makhachev enters UFC 330 as a heavy favorite, priced at minus 350 on the betting line. Garry sits at plus 285, a clear underdog by the numbers. Khabib’s comments do not change those odds. They explain why sportsbooks still respect Garry despite the gap.
Garry has won two straight since his only professional loss, including a decision over Belal Muhammad. He also has real distance-striking tools, which lines up with what Khabib described. The fight likely turns on one question. Can Makhachev close distance before Garry’s volume adds up on the scorecards?
Here is the detail most coverage skips. Khabib specifically said his camp has never faced anyone this tall, not that Garry is the most skilled opponent Makhachev has faced. That is a narrower claim than most headlines suggest. Khabib is flagging a physical problem, not conceding a skill gap, and that distinction changes how much weight his comments should carry.
Garry’s Own Comments on Khabib
Garry has stayed respectful of Khabib throughout fight  week, even while trash-talking Makhachev. He called Khabib one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history. He also pushed back on the idea that Khabib’s early retirement diminishes his legacy, a stance that separates Garry from other Irish fighters who have criticized Khabib’s exit.
That respect is not an accident. Garry wants this fight framed as a clean measuring stick, not a rivalry built on disrespect. Comparing his tone to Conor McGregor’s past comments about Khabib shows a deliberate choice. Garry is selling substance over noise ahead of a title fight he needs people to take seriously.
Conclusion
The Ian Machado Garry and Khabib Nurmagomedov connection comes down to one specific warning. Khabib says his camp has never dealt with a fighter Garry’s height, and that changes how Makhachev has to approach range and distance. It is a physical concern, not an admission that Garry is the better fighter.
Garry, for his part, has kept the build-up focused on respect rather than shots at Khabib’s legacy. That approach fits a fighter trying to be taken seriously as a threat, not a sideshow. Watch how fast Makhachev can close distance in the opening round. That single detail will tell you whether Khabib’s warning was right.
