Ilia Topuria Believes Ian Machado Garry Has A Real Chance Against Islam Makhachev

Ian Machado Garry, Islam Makhchev, and Ilia Topuria (Photo by Imagn)

Ilia Topuria Believes Ian Machado Garry Has A Real Chance Against Islam Makhachev

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 6, 2026 3:19 PM ET

Islam Makhachev just added a second division title to his collection and has been on an unbeaten run for over a decade. As a result, fans across the world feel Makhachev cannot be beaten right now, despite Ian Machado Garry calling him out many times. Notably, Ilia Topuria is not writing Garry off. Not even close.

Islam Makhachev now sits at the top of the welterweight division as a two-division champion. Because of that, the list of fighters whom people believe can beat him is very small. Garry is the next man in line, and the skeptics have been loud. Topuria isn’t one of them.

“It’s the fight business everyone has chances, especially for someone like Ian Garry. He’s been able to collect a lot of experience in his UFC run, and I see him with a lot of chances. We’ve already seen Islam get knocked out before, so why not for a second time,” Topuria said.

Ilia Topuria says Ian Machado Garry has a good chance to beat Islam Makhachev because he’s already been knocked out before.

“It’s the fight business everyone has chances, especially for someone like Ian Garry. He’s been able to collect a lot of experience in his UFC run,… pic.twitter.com/50zpfULF7J
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 6, 2026

Makhachev was knocked out by Adriano Martins back in 2015. Since then, he has gone on a long unbeaten run and become a completely different fighter. Still, Topuria believes that loss showed he can be hurt, even if it now seems very unlikely.

Ian Machado Garry Is Already Calling Out Carlos Prates Before He’s Even Fought Islam Makhachev

Garry hasn’t fought Makhachev yet. That hasn’t stopped him from planning what comes after. The Irishman took to X to call out Carlos Prates directly, framing it as the fight he wants once he gets through the welterweight champion. That level of confidence stands out because many people see Makhachev as the best fighter in the world across two divisions. Still, Garry has never been someone who doubts himself, no matter who the opponent is.

Carlos after I beat Islam – You and I in Brazil let’s do it!
— “The Future” Ian Machado Garry (@iangarryMMA) May 2, 2026

Garry walking through it would be one of the biggest upsets the welterweight division has ever seen. He already knows what he’s doing next if he does. Now, Topuria publicly backed Garry’s chances and pointed to Makhachev’s past knockout loss as proof that he can still be beaten. Even then, the chances still seem very small.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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