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Islam Makhachev has no plans of walking away from pro MMA competition at the conclusion of UFC 330.

Many argue that Makhachev has nothing left to prove having captured UFC gold in two weight classes and not suffering a loss since 2015. For the most part, the two-division UFC titleholder has looked dominant. Even when he was tested against fellow future UFC Hall of Famer Alexander Volkanovski, Makhachev delivered a definitive knockout win in the rematch.

Now that he's the welterweight ruler in search of his first successful title defense, it's got people talking about how much longer Makhachev will compete. Beloved UFC color commentator Joe Rogan recently said he wouldn't be surprised if the 170-pound king hangs up his gloves if he defeats Ian Machado Garry on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Fans of Makhachev can breathe a little easier after the pound-for-pound great told TMZ Sports that he isn't going anywhere for the time being (h/t Bloody Elbow).

“No, no, no. I told you I like to be UFC champion and we're still going,†Makhachev said. “It's not about numbers, about age. It's about your health, how you feel. Not everybody can feel the same at 34. That's why I feel great. No injuries. I still enjoy the sports, you know. That's why we will fight again. You will see me many more times.â€

Oftentimes, Makhachev and MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov will get compared given the two are childhood friends and have trained together for years. Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record, but many felt he still had plenty of fight left in him. It appears Makhachev will be taking a bit of a different path and is looking to keep fighting for as long as his body holds up.

Is it a good idea for Islam Makhachev to continue fighting beyond UFC 330, or do you think he should consider walking away sooner rather than later? Sound off in the comments below.

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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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Ian Machado Garry hopes to reach legendary status by displaying dominance for the next decade.

Garry has a tall task in front of him this Saturday, but there is a reward that would mark his greatest career accomplishment to date. “The Future will be challenging Islam Makhachev for the welterweight gold in the UFC 330 main event. If Garry can emerge victorious in Philadelphia on Saturday, he'll capture UFC gold for the first time in his career.

Ahead of fight night, Garry took part in a media day scrum. The top 170-pound title challenger said he wants to carry Irish MMA throughout the next 10 years, and he believes he can be a dominant champion who will etch his name in history (via MMAJunkie).

“I'm talking about a decade of domination,†Garry said. “I'm 28 years of age. (Alexander) Volkanovski is still champion of the world. He's 38. Justin Gaethje just won a title in his third attempt. He's 38 years of age. I have 10 years of domination in this sport against the next best opponent every single time. Something that excites me has been the champion of the world, fighting the right fight, the person who deserves the title shot the most, which is something I don't feel like the UFC has always done. But that's my job as the champion, to make sure the rightful contender gets the shot every single time.â€

Garry has defeated former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, Carlos Prates, Geoff Neal, and Michael Page on his road to challenging for Makhachev's gold. His lone loss was a competitive five-round bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov back in late 2024.

Makhachev hasn't suffered a loss in over a decade, and he's become the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the eyes of many experts. He enters Saturday's clash inside Xfinity Mobile Arena as a significant betting favorite, but the challenger has vowed to score a spectacular knockout to silence his doubters.

Do you see Ian Machado Garry fulfilling his goal of being dominant for the next decade, or is that a pipedream? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM