UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev's fight against Irishman Ian Garry was called one of the toughest bouts in the career of the Russian athlete's coach, Javier Mendez.
Mendez stated this in an interview with the Match TV channel.
"This was one of the hardest fights in Islam's career. But the most important thing is the victory. This result further strengthens Islam's reputation in everyone's eyes," said the coach.
On August 16, Islam Makhachev defeated Ian Garry and defended the UFC welterweight championship belt. Thus, the Russian fighter's winning streak reached 17 fights. This is considered a new record for the longest winning streak in UFC history.
For the 34-year-old Makhachev, the fight against Garry was his second bout in the welterweight division. He won the championship belt in this weight class after defeating Australian Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025.
Previously, Makhachev competed in the lightweight division. From October 2022 to 2025, he defended the UFC lightweight championship, retaining the belt four times.
