Belal Muhammad sides with Dana White: “What’s with this hugging?” after UFC 330 title fight

Belal Muhammad said he understands why Dana White criticized Ian Machado Garry’s performance after UFC 330, particularly Garry’s tendency to be too friendly instead of pursuing a decisive finish. The remark was anchored to the welterweight title fight main event in Philadelphia, where Machado Garry ultimately lost to Islam Makhachev.

According to the account reported by Yahoo Sports, White’s dissatisfaction focused on what he viewed as a lack of “killer instinct” from Machado Garry. In the portrayal of the fight’s flow, the early portion produced enough balance that one judge had things tied at two rounds apiece as the bout headed into Round 5, a point at which fans and fighters typically look for escalation rather than extended hesitation.

Muhammad’s reaction to that criticism was blunt and aimed at Machado Garry’s in-fight demeanor. The report frames Muhammad as agreeing with White’s assessment, questioning “this hugging” and suggesting that Machado Garry should have shifted gears more aggressively as the fight approached its later stages.

The same report also provides background on the matchup’s stakes. Machado Garry entered with a 17-2 MMA record and a 10-2 UFC record, while Makhachev came in with a 29-1 MMA record and an 18-1 UFC record. Within that context, White and Muhammad’s shared point is not only about outcomes, but about how a challenger manages moments when pressure can turn a close fight into a control position, a knockdown burst, or a late-round submission threat.

At UFC 330, the criticism lands in a broader setting for welterweight contenders because title fights often function as auditions for the next wave of challengers. When a challenger appears to be too comfortable exchanging in non-dominant ways, it can reinforce the champion’s game plan and reduce the chance of forcing risky reactions. Muhammad’s comments, as reported, highlight that the difference between “competitive” and “deserving of the finish” can come down to willingness to take calculated shots rather than settling into rhythm.

For Machado Garry, the key question going forward is whether he can translate that feedback into specific adjustments. Observers will likely look for changes in how he enters exchanges, how he responds to being momentarily hurt or pressured, and whether he increases the pace when rounds close to the championship distance offer limited time to create separation on the scorecards or with finishes.

For the UFC, the moment underscores how quickly fight narratives can shift from athletic execution to style critique. If Muhammad and White are right about the late-fight need for sharper aggression, then UFC 330’s headline lesson for welterweight will be the same one fans have heard for years: late rounds demand more than control and respect, they demand pursuit.