Belal Muhammad expects Islam Makhachev to pose a late submission threat in first welterweight title defense vs. Ian Machado Garry

Islam Makhachev is set for his first welterweight title defense on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, and former champion Belal Muhammad believes the fight could shift toward a late finish. Muhammad, who is familiar with the kinds of problems Makhachev creates in and around exchanges, framed the matchup as one where Garry’s path to control late could be threatened by Makhachev’s ability to find submissions as rounds accumulate.

Muhammad’s perspective draws from his own history inside the Octagon and his exposure to Makhachev as a training partner. According to the report, Muhammad previously lost a unanimous decision to Ian Machado Garry at UFC Fight Night 265, meaning he has direct experience with the style and timing Garry brings to welterweight matchups. That matters because Garry is not simply a one-dimensional striker. His game is built to progress, adjust, and try to keep opponents from settling into a rhythm.

The fight week context in Philadelphia also raises the stakes for how the matchup plays out. UFC 330’s headliner features a welterweight title defense with Islam Makhachev stepping up against Garry’s 17-1 mixed martial arts record and 10-1 UFC record, per the report. For Makhachev, the assignment is to prove that the pressure that has defined his best outings can translate to a division where speed, distance management, and takedown resistance are recurring themes.

Muhammad suggested he could see Makhachev scoring a late submission, a specific prediction that points to a particular kind of game script. His expectation, as described, is not about a one-shot finish early. It is about wear-and-tear, positional wrestling, and the moment when an opponent’s defensive options tighten as fatigue changes the angles. If Garry’s plan is to preserve burst windows while limiting time on the back foot, Muhammad’s comment implies that the fight could still evolve into a grappling-heavy finish once Makhachev’s timing syncs up in the later rounds.

A key detail in Muhammad’s assessment is that he has trained with Makhachev previously. That background can shape how a fighter reads transitions, pressure sequences, and how quickly an opponent’s structure can be disrupted when the champion chooses to force the issue. In this case, Muhammad’s credibility rests on being able to speak beyond generalities, because he is not only observing Makhachev, he has reportedly been in the gym with him.

Still, Muhammad’s expectation is exactly that, a possibility, not a guarantee. A welterweight matchup with a fighter like Garry, who has built his UFC run on combining movement, striking, and defensive awareness, can turn on small tactical swings. The most important question for viewers will be whether Garry is able to prevent takedown entries and scramble out of disadvantaged positions, or whether Makhachev can consistently convert control into submission threats as the fight reaches the championship stages.