Legendary mixed martial artist and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has voiced significant concerns regarding Ian Machado Garry’s current psychological approach leading up to his upcoming title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330. Cormier believes that Garry’s current mindset is not conducive to success and strongly advises the Irish fighter to make a substantial shift in his thinking before stepping into the octagon.
Speaking on his podcast, Cormier elaborated on his observations, suggesting that Garry seems overly focused on external validation and is perhaps letting the pressure and hype surrounding the mega-fight get to him. “I’m worried about Ian,” Cormier stated. “I think he needs to ditch this whole ‘I’m the king, I’m the guy’ thing for a moment. He needs to get back to being the hunter, the guy who is going to go in there and take something from Islam. Right now, it feels like he’s trying to convince himself, and maybe others, that he’s already won.”
Cormier, who has shared the octagon with some of the sport’s greatest fighters, emphasized the importance of humility and a grounded approach when facing an elite opponent like Makhachev, who is widely regarded as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. “Islam is a problem,” Cormier continued. “He doesn’t care about your persona, he doesn’t care about your social media, he doesn’t care about the noise. He cares about what happens inside that cage. Ian needs to be prepared for that, and right now, I don’t know if his current mindset is allowing him to be.”
The former two-division champion suggested that Garry should channel the same focus and determination that propelled him through his career thus far, rather than being swayed by the spectacle of a championship bout. “He needs to go back to basics,” Cormier urged. “He needs to remember why he started fighting, the hunger that got him here. This fight is about survival and execution against one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. It’s not about proving a point to the world; it’s about proving it to himself in that moment.”
Cormier’s advice highlights a critical aspect of championship-level MMA: the mental game. As Garry prepares for the biggest fight of his career against a seemingly insurmountable opponent, the UFC veteran’s counsel underscores the potential pitfalls of succumbing to external pressures and the necessity of a focused, resilient mindset.