UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev feels Ian Machado Garry’s work with Charles Oliveira could backfire at UFC 330.

Islam Makhachev will defend the UFC welterweight throne against rising contender Ian Machado Garry in the UFC 330 headliner next month. Makhachev returns to the Octagon almost a full year since becoming the UFC’s latest two-division champion by finishing Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

As Garry prepares to potentially pull off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history against Makhachev, he’s training with one of Makhachev’s biggest rivals. Garry and Charles Oliveira are longtime training partners in Brazil and have spent numerous sessions together ahead of UFC 330.

Makhachev and Oliveira have history, after Makhachev became one of the few men to submit the UFC’s submission king inside the Octagon. Despite Garry utilizing a top resource ahead of UFC 330, Makhachev believes nothing positive will come of it.

Islam Makhachev dishes cold response to Ian Machado Garry-Charles Oliveira link-up

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Makhachev was asked about Garry’s pre-fight prep with his former rival.

“I just have to run in this camp because he runs too much,” Makhachev said of Garry.

“I know his game plan, we see his fights and he has the same style, always. I’ll try to catch him, take him down and do just I’ve done with all of my other opponents. Charles is going to teach him how to tap fast, that’s it.”

As of this writing, neither Garry nor Oliveira has responded to Makhachev’s comments.

Garry has demonstrated impressive grappling in recent wins over Belal Muhammad, Michael ‘Venom’ Page, and Carlos Prates, but has yet to face a wrestler of Makhachev’s caliber. Makhachev, a top protege of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, has smothered most of his opponents during his ongoing win streak.

What is your prediction for Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!