Conor McGregor has added another layer of intrigue to one of the biggest UFC fights of the summer, weighing in on the upcoming welterweight title showdown between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry. The former two-division champion has publicly discussed the UFC 330 main event, with his comments likely to attract plenty of attention given his long-standing connection to Irish MMA. As Philadelphia prepares for the championship contest, McGregor’s assessment has made the headline clash even more compelling.
Conor McGregor’s UFC 330 Prediction
Conor McGregor has backed fellow Irishman Ian Machado Garry ahead of his UFC 330 meeting with Islam Makhachev. Speaking on Instagram, the former UFC champion highlighted Garry’s physical attributes and work at SBG while expressing confidence in his ability to challenge Makhachev.
“He has the tools. He’s been doing great work at SBG. He’s long. He’s definitely going to stay safe,” McGregor said.
McGregor also suggested that Makhachev can have periods where he stalls during fights, while acknowledging that the Russian has adapted well since moving up to welterweight.
The Irish superstar went further when describing how he expects the fight to unfold, predicting a late-round finish for Garry. His prediction adds another talking point to an already highly anticipated UFC 330 main event.
CONOR McGREGOR PREDICTS A HEAD-KICK KO FOR IAN GARRY AGAINST ISLAM MAKHACHEV. 🇮🇪
“The Notorious” is backing his fellow Irishman to pull off the massive upset at UFC 330. 🏆
Ian Machado Garry is a massive underdog against Islam, who enters the fight riding a 15-fight unbeaten… pic.twitter.com/nkHMkbHeuy
— MMA On Line (@MMAOnLine_) August 13, 2026
UFC 330: All about Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry Fight
UFC 330 takes place on Saturday, August 15, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with Makhachev defending the UFC welterweight championship against No. 1 contender Garry. The UFC’s official event listing confirms the five-round title fight as the main event.
Makhachev enters the contest with a 28-1 professional record and a 16-fight winning streak. The former lightweight champion moved to welterweight after building a historic run at 155 pounds and captured the 170-pound title with a victory over Jack Della Maddalena. UFC records list him as the current welterweight champion.
Garry, meanwhile, owns a 17-1 record and is ranked No. 1 in the division. The Dublin-born contender is riding a three-fight winning streak, with recent victories over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates among his notable wins.
With the UFC welterweight title on the line, Makhachev’s championship experience will meet Garry’s unbeaten momentum, leading to one of the most intriguing UFC 330 matchups of 2026.
