Jon Jones predicts Islam Makhachev VS Ian Machado Garry

Jon Jones believes Islam Makhachev's elite wrestling will be the decisive factor when he defends the UFC welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry.

Jon Jones has shared his predictions for the fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry, and sees a clear favorite.

The 170-pound titleholder Islam Makhachev will have to defend his UFC Welterweight title for the first time in mid-August. He has, however, already defended his lightweight title four times, which shows that he is very experienced in such situations. His opponent is Ian Machado Garry, who is looking to win the UFC welterweight title for the first time. According to Jon Jones, though, this could prove very difficult for him.

"I’m going with Islam because he has a wrestling background, and it’s very hard to beat wrestlers. Islam, he may just be one of the greatest fighters in the world. Right now, it’s me and maybe him. So, I encourage him to keep going"

he said.

If Islam Makhachev wins the fight, it would be his 17th consecutive victory. His only loss came in 2015, and he has won every fight since then. Ian Machado Garry, on the other hand, had to work hard to earn a shot at the UFC title. With his recent wins, including one against Belal Muhammad, he‘s earned that opportunity, and for him, of course, it’s all about bringing the belt home. We’ll see if it’s enough, but one thing is clear: despite Islam Makhachev’s skills, it could be a good and exciting fight.

It’s a very reasonable prediction from Jon Jones. I see it much the same way he does, and I think most people do too. It’s simply a fact that Islam Makhachev is an incredibly good wrestler, and therefore has some advantages. However, I would never count out fighters like Ian Machado Garry, especially when it comes to his first UFC title. So, in my opinion, it’s still a bit of a nail-biter. What do you guys think? Is the wrestling too strong, or does Ian Machado Garry have a realistic chance?