A possible showdown between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry got an intriguing boost this week after UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria said he believes Garry would have a real chance in that matchup.
Speaking recently in an interview with Brett Okamoto, Topuria discussed the idea of Makhachev facing Garry and made it clear he would not dismiss the Irish contender’s chances. The comments come at a time when the UFC is constantly searching for high-stakes crossover matchups that can reshape multiple divisions at once, especially with champions and top contenders increasingly willing to move across weight classes.
Topuria’s angle was simple: in MMA, nobody is untouchable. He pointed to Garry’s growing experience in the UFC and suggested that kind of development matters against even the sport’s most dominant names. He also referenced the fact that Makhachev has been knocked out before, implying that a second stoppage loss is not impossible against the right opponent.
That is where the stakes get interesting. If Makhachev were to beat Garry, it would only strengthen his case as one of the era’s pound-for-pound kings while shutting down questions about how he handles longer, mobile strikers from outside his division. If Garry pulled it off, the result would detonate the title picture and instantly make him one of the biggest stars in the sport. For the UFC, that is the kind of upset that can create a pay-per-view headliner overnight.
From an American fan and media perspective, Garry remains a polarizing figure, which only adds fuel to a hypothetical fight like this. He has drawn attention for his confidence and his ability to market himself, but he would be stepping in against a champion widely viewed as one of the smartest and most suffocating fighters in the game. Stylistically, that contrast is exactly what would drive interest in the matchup.
Makhachev still represents the standard at lightweight, but Topuria’s comments reflect a larger truth about the sport: all it takes is one clean shot. If this fight ever moves from speculation to contract stage, the buildup will be just as compelling as the matchup itself.
