Ian Machado Garry knows who he is fighting after UFC 330.

Garry is set to headline UFC 330 on Saturday in Philadelphia against Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title. Although the Irishman is a sizable betting underdog, he has full confidence that he will be able to dethrone Makhachev.

If he beats Makhachev, he doesn't think an immediate rematch will be next. Instead, Garry believes Carlos Prates will get the next title shot.

“Listen, I called him last week, we chatted about it but there is only one,†Garry said at media day. “There is only one person who has earned or deserves the title shot after this fight and it's Carlos Prates. All the other guys haven't done enough. Carlos Prates has earned it. Nobody else in the entire division has earned it. They all need to fight at least one more fight.

“Prates is coming off two fights against two guys that have never been finished and he did it in insane fashion. I whooped his ass for 24 minutes and I did it on three weeks' notice. So if he wants to give me three or four months [to get ready], he knows what's going to happen. He'll be able to sleep well after the next one.â€

If Garry does beat Makhachev, an immediate rematch certainly would make sense. But Garry believes Prates has earned the rematch and a title shot.

Ian Machado Garry open to Islam Makhachev rematch after UFC 330

Although Ian Machado Garry believes Carlos Prates should be next, he isn't ruling out an Islam Makhachev rematch. However, he thinks there won't be a need for a rematch after his performance on Saturday.

“I think let's focus on beating him once and then we can focus on beating twice,†Garry said. “But it all depends on the fashion. If I go out there and scalp him in two minutes, do you want to see me fight him again straight away? That's just the way it is. If we have a back and forth war like he had with Volkanovski, it probably would warrant a rematch.

“But also, there's many other challenges here that are exciting at the same time. Let's get through Saturday night, let's get the win and then we'll see in what fashion I get the victory and if there's a rematch on the cards. But I wouldn't be against it. I think he's earned enough to do it. But let's get through Saturday night first.â€

Garry enters UFC 330 with a record of 17-1 and is coming off a decision win over Belal Muhammad. It was his second straight win after he beat Prates by decision in a five-round fight.

Do you think Ian Machado Garry will beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 330?

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ONE Championship

A fighter who spent years outside the spotlight gets his introduction against one of the division's most dangerous veterans.

Dmitri Ramos makes his ONE Championship debut against PK Saenchai Muaythaigym's Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn in a bantamweight Muay Thai co-main event at The Inner Circle 26, streaming live in Asia primetime this Friday, August 14, from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. The 26-year-old American built his case with Sor Dechapan on the Thai regional circuit, highlighted by a third-round spinning elbow finish of veteran Phet Uthong Or Kwanmuang in a rematch after an earlier loss.

Ramos leans on boxing as his foundation, the first striking discipline he ever learned, and he views it as the clearest technical edge he holds over a kicker of Gingsanglek's caliber.

“I do think Gingsanglek's kick is more dangerous than Phet Uthong's. Gingsanglek is a cannon. So I have to treat his weapon for what it is,†he said.

Dmitri Ramos banks on pressure and pace

Ramos believes his conditioning gives him a real edge if the fight extends into the later rounds, betting that his forward pressure and work rate will eventually wear down the more experienced Thai veteran.

That patience-and-pressure formula has become the calling card of his rise from an overlooked regional prospect to a ONE Championship debutant with real expectations attached.

“I know my gas tank is better. I've seen him fight. My boxing, I know I have the technical advantage with my boxing. I'm gonna make him drown. Take him to the deep waters in the third round,†he said.

Ramos has said he expects one of two scenarios to unfold: an early finish from either man given their shared power, or a grinding battle where his pressure becomes the deciding factor if Gingsanglek survives the opening exchanges. Either way, he arrives believing his moment has finally come.

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Zuffa LLC

Sean O'Malley doesn't see the UFC 330 main event being a barnburner, but he is sensing an upset.

Garry will enter Saturday's card in Philadelphia as a sizable betting underdog. His opponent, Islam Makhachev, is widely regarded as the best MMA fighter today and many expect him to make his first welterweight title defense a successful one. Garry has every intention to shake things up in the 170-pound division, and O'Malley thinks “The Future†can pull it off.

Even so, O'Malley isn't expecting an exciting fight. In a video breakdown posted on his YouTube channel, the former UFC bantamweight titleholder said that he can see Garry's point fighting coming into play, and he doesn't think it'll make the crowd inside Xfininity Mobile Arena happy (h/t MMAJunkie).

“I do think there's going to be a point where he's frustrating Islam,†O'Malley said. “He's popping him with the jab, and he's moving, he's circling, he's not engaging. He's hitting him with it. The crowd is booing. They're staying up until 5am to watch him, and he's punching and moving, but he's doing what he has to do.â€

The “Suga†show did leave the possibility open for another dominant showing from Makhachev, who is destined for the UFC Hall of Fame at some point when he's ready to retire. Ultimately, O'Malley is picking the challenger to stun the MMA world this weekend.

“With that all said, he is vegan, so I don't know,†O'Malley said. “Part of me thinks that Islam could just grab ahold of him and snap him in half like a f*cking zucchini, but I don't know. Final prediction: I think Ian Garry's going to win a decision. I don't think it's going to be the most exciting fight ever. I think there's going to be some good back-and-forths, but I do think Ian Garry is is going to get the job done.â€

If Garry can pull off the upset, then he'd hand Makhachev his first loss since 2015. “The Future†would also become the first Irish fighter to win the UFC welterweight gold.

Do you think Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry has the potential to be a snoozer, or do you disagree with Sean O'Malley here? Share your opinion in the comments below.

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