Dana White’s Comments About Ian Garry After UFC 330 Earn Rare Praise From MMA Insider

MMA Insider Ariel Helwani supports UFC CEO Dana White's criticism of Ian Garry's overly respectful nature at UFC 330.

Dana White’s Comments About Ian Garry After UFC 330 Earn Rare Praise From MMA Insider

Dana White criticizes Ian Garry's behavior (via Yahoo Sports, Washington Post)

Dana White was vocal about his opposition to Ian Garry’s demeanor during his UFC 330 title clash with Islam Makhachev. The Irish star remained notably respectful throughout the bout, repeatedly embracing Makhachev during the championship fight. Garry also exchanged handshakes and hugs with the champion.

Makhachev controlled the early rounds through wrestling, repeatedly taking Garry down and maintaining top control. Garry defended several attempts and found greater success with his striking as the fight progressed. Makhachev regained control late and secured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47.

White criticized Garry’s antics during UFC 330, particularly his repeated hugs and handshakes with Makhachev. White felt Garry lacked urgency in the fifth round, despite having hurt Makhachev earlier. MMA Insider Ariel Helwani later praised White’s assessment as some of his most thoughtful commentary recently.

I actually thought what he said about Ian was some of the most thoughtful and profound commentary that he’s given us in quite some time.

Ariel Helwani via his YouTube channel

Helwani was removed from UFC 199 after reporting Brock Lesnar’s UFC 200 return before the promotion announced it. The UFC lifted his ban two days later, but tensions with White continued for years. White has since remained open to mending their relationship, leaving the door open for reconciliation.

Helwani has previously criticized fighters for showing excessive respect after heated buildups, including Sean Strickland at UFC 328. He questioned Strickland after the middleweight champion reconciled with Khamzat Chimaev following their intense rivalry. Helwani’s stance adds context to his praise of White’s criticism toward Garry.

Interestingly, Helwani’s praise marks a rare positive assessment of White after months of criticism toward the UFC CEO. The MMA insider has questioned White’s apparent lack of interest and criticized lackluster announcements. His latest praise therefore stands out, particularly after repeatedly scrutinizing White’s approach to the promotion.

Most recently, Helwani criticized White over his Conor McGregor‘s UFC 329 announcement during MVP MMA’s debut event. He viewed the timing as petty, particularly because it came while former UFC champion Francis Ngannou was walking to the cage. The incident added to Helwani’s criticism of White’s recent UFC decisions.

Ultimately, Helwani’s praise of White stands out after years of criticism and their long-running rivalry. Islam Makhachev also found Garry’s repeated hugs unusual, adding another perspective to the discussion. Dana White’s comments therefore earned rare praise from Ariel Helwani, highlighting an unexpected point of agreement between the two.

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Dana White Criticizes Ian Garry for Lacking ‘Killer Instinct’ After UFC 330 Loss to Islam Makhachev

Dana White remains clear on Islam Makhachev’s standing in the GOAT conversation

Dana White has been clear about his choice for the UFC GOAT conversation for years, consistently backing Jon Jones. Jones remained at the top of White’s list despite his controversial career. However, White’s relationship with the former two-division champion has now ruptured, changing the backdrop of the debate.

Dana White was prepared to give Alex Pereira the GOAT mantle if he won a third divisional championship at UFC Freedom 250. Pereira faced Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, but Gane stopped him in the second round. That defeat ended Pereira’s pursuit and White’s potential GOAT endorsement.

Dana White makes blunder while talking about Islam Makhachev
Dana White makes blunder while talking about Islam Makhachev (via X, Yahoo Sports)

Islam Makhachev made history at UFC 330 by extending his UFC winning streak to 17 victories. He surpassed Anderson Silva’s previous record of 16 consecutive wins and became the fifth fighter to defend titles in two divisions. Those achievements strengthened Makhachev’s case and prompted White to address his growing legacy.

I don’t know what your opinion is. You know, if he didn’t have that one loss on his record, it would almost be a no brainer. This kid wants to stay active all the time and after what he did tonight he talks about 3 or 4 more fights.

Dana White via UFC on TNT Sports

Makhachev’s only professional loss came against Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in 2015, when he suffered a first-round knockout. That defeat remains the lone blemish on his record despite his lengthy winning streak since then. Dana White believes another major achievement could settle Makhachev’s place in the UFC GOAT conversation.

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