MMA
Coach defends Ian Machado Garry for hugging Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, confident in rematch: ‘We’re going to have that belt next year’
Published
1 month agoon
Ian Machado Garry has faced criticism for the excessive hugging during his UFC 330 title fight in August, when he lost a decision to Islam Makhachev, but his head coach Diego Lima believes the hate is too much.
Lima was in Garry's corner in Philadelphia and told MMA Fighting he only paid attention to the hugs when it later became a topic of discussion.
“I swear I didn't notice it,†Lima said. “And I don't think the hugs influenced anything at all. Him greeting his opponent, honestly… Charles [Oliveira] does that too. Charles hugs everyone when the round ends, when the round starts. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. That didn't change the outcome of the fight. Thank God, Ian is a family man, a respectful guy, extremely polite. If he wants to greet people more, let him greet people more. There's no problem with that.â€
That was the second time Makhachev has faced a fighter coached by Lima, the first being a lightweight title bout against Charles Oliveira, and Lima has nothing but great things to say about the welterweight champion.
“As much as he's our opponent, he's also an extremely respectful guy,†Lima said. “I like him as a human being. I also admire his work as a fighter. But even though we're opponents, he's a guy who always greets us whenever he sees us and gives us a hug.â€
Lima admits maybe Garry could have won the fight if he had been more aggressive inside the octagon, and that's a lesson learned for the future. He remains proud of what Garry was able to do against one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
“Ian fought very well, and you saw both of their faces,†Lima said. “I think if we had been just a little more aggressive, we could have knocked him out. But at the same time, we knew we were facing the No. 1 guy. There's nothing you can say about Makhachev, he's an extremely tough guy.â€
“He really is a very tough, very good fighter, and the results speak for themselves,†he continued. “And Ian Garry came very close to winning this fight. That's why I really believe that in a rematch, Ian Garry can win. I'm not going to say that [Makhachev] isn't all that, because he is. He's very, very tough. But I think everyone saw it, and Makhachev himself saw it, how tough Ian is. I think if we had been a little more aggressive, we could have knocked him out. Because Ian, in my opinion, is one of the smartest fighters in the UFC. One of the highest fight IQs in the UFC. He adapts to everyone's game. He fought [Carlos] Prates, who is a nasty striker. He fought Makhachev, who is a nasty grappler, and he adapted to both styles. I really believe we're going to have that belt next year.â€
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MMA
Movsar Evloev warns Alexander Volkanovski: He hasnt beaten anyone like me
Published
13 hours agoon
October 23, 2026
Evloev says he has pushed himself harder than ever ahead of his
first UFC title shot.
Evloev (20-0) is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski (28-4) for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the
bout, the unbeaten Russian discussed how his preparations have
differed from previous training camps.
Movsar Evloev details toughest training camp ahead of Alexander
Volkanovski title fight at UFC 333
Evloev said he increased his workload across all aspects of
training to address any potential weaknesses. He believes that
preparation will help him showcase his abilities in Saturday's main
event.
“This preparation is different just because I pushed more than
ever,†Evloev said in a pre-fight interview. “And we did more of
everything to make sure we didn't miss anything. He hasn't beaten
anyone like me. There's many things that make me special, like
unique. And I'm about to show it Saturday.â€
Evloev has long been considered a leading featherweight contender,
with Volkanovski acknowledging him as the most deserving
challenger. However, Diego Lopes
received a title rematch against Volkanovski earlier this year
before Evloev earned his opportunity. The Russian's lack of UFC
finishes has fueled debate about his wait for a championship bout,
though the promotion has not established it as the reason for the
delay.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.”
Movsar
Evloev (@MovsarUFC) discusses his journey to the title shot and
his title fight matchup against champ Alexander
Volkanovski @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi |
@ParamountPlus https://t.co/fWuJJ7I2sz— UFC News (@UFCNews)
October 21, 2026
MMA
Joshua Van: Sean Strickland ‘in a bad spot’ in Dana White feud over UFC pay
Published
14 hours agoon
October 23, 2026
Joshua Van sides with UFC boss Dana White in his public feud with Sean Strickland.
For Van, the UFC's flyweight champion, the matter should have been discussed behind closed doors instead of a public forum like social media.
“He just signed a contract in May and fought Khamzat, and then he won,†Van told Outta Pocket. “Instead of going on Twitter and going on all that [expletive], he should have talked to Dana and said, ‘I wanna renegotiate.' Behind closed doors. Then the boss would have been like, ‘OK, let's talk about this, what you want?' You just beat the boogeyman. Now it's a whole mess.â€
“If you work at a 9-to-5 job and you go off to your boss and you're like, pay me this much. Like, what the [expletive]? You know what I mean? So he's in a bad spot right now. He's still under the contract. I don't know how that's gonna work.â€
A 25-year-old flyweight champion who started his professional MMA career when Strickland already had 14 UFC bouts under his belt, Van agrees with Strickland that fighters should get paid more.
However, he doesn't sound unhappy with his current UFC contract. Van recently defended his 125-pound belt with a decision over Alexandre Pantoja, his third title bout win in a span of 10 months, including a fifth-round TKO over Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event of Chimaev vs. Strickland.
“I'm getting paid good,†Van said with a laugh. “I think they pay me good amount; I don't know, but fighter that think they deserve more or—like, should we get paid more? Yes, but, I don't know, I'm happy where I'm at. I start from zero to now, the UFC literally made me where I'm at, gave me everything that I got right now. I don't know, I'm happy right now. I can't really say for the other guy.â€
MMA
UFC 333 prop odds: Krylov-Yakhyaev favored for fastest finish
Published
1 day agoon
October 22, 2026
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