Updated

Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 10

Jean Silva Picks 17-1 Ian Garry to Upset Islam Makhachev as Caio Borralho Disagrees

Updated

Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 10

Jean Silva Picks 17-1 Ian Garry to Upset Islam Makhachev as Caio Borralho Disagrees

Q: Why are so many UFC fighters backing a heavy underdog to snap Islam Makhachev's historic win streak?

Many fighters are backing Ian Garry because, despite the odds, he offers a style and résumé that make him a credible live underdog rather than a token challenger. Garry has built real support by beating proven UFC names such as Belal Muhammad, Geoff Neal, Neil Magny and Carlos Prates, and his only loss came to Shavkat Rakhmonov, one of the division’s most respected contenders. That body of work suggests to fighters that Garry is not being overrated by hype alone. He is 17-1 overall and 9-1 in the UFC, which gives peers reason to believe he can compete at championship level. There is also a stylistic argument. Fighters often value movement, range management and striking adaptability more than betting markets do, and Garry’s long, technical stand-up game gives him at least a theoretical path to avoid the kind of grinding control Makhachev used to dominate Jack Della Maddalena in his title-winning performance. If Garry can stay off the mat consistently, some fighters see a route to an upset. At the same time, these picks do not mean most insiders think Makhachev is likely to lose. Makhachev remains the clear favorite for good reason: he is 28-1, on a 16-fight winning streak that ties Anderson Silva’s UFC mark, and has already shown he can carry his lightweight dominance up to welterweight. Even Jean Silva, who picked Garry, admitted it was a difficult call, while Caio Borralho’s visible disagreement reflected the broader view that Makhachev is still the safer pick.

Q: Will Jean Silva's controversial title fight prediction create a bitter rift within his own training camp?

Probably not. Silva’s pick looks more like normal gym banter and a difference of opinion than evidence of a serious split inside the Fighting Nerds camp. The available facts show only mild tension. Silva said he “prefers Ian Garry” and admitted there was “a little problem” for his team because Garry previously beat teammate Carlos Prates. Borralho’s response was limited to shaking his head during the interview. There is no reporting of an argument, public criticism, or any fallout inside the camp. In MMA, teammates often make independent predictions, especially when a fighter involved has shared history with the gym. Silva’s comment appears to reflect personal respect for Garry’s skills and résumé, not disloyalty. That résumé is substantial: Garry is 17-1, 9-1 in the UFC, and owns notable wins over Prates, Belal Muhammad, Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Backing him as a live underdog is not an outlandish position, even with Makhachev entering on a 16-fight winning streak and as a heavy favorite. What matters more is whether the disagreement escalates after the fight or prompts direct responses from Prates or other teammates. For now, there is no evidence of a bitter rift—only a public difference in opinion amplified by the stakes of UFC 330.

2 articles · Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 10

Jean Silva backed Ian Garry to beat welterweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, even as teammate Caio Borralho visibly disagreed during the prediction.
Aug. 15 in Philadelphia, Garry enters the title fight as the underdog despite a 17-1 record, nine UFC wins and victories over Belal Muhammad, Geoff Neal, Neil Magny and Silva's teammate Carlos Prates.
Makhachev brings a 28-1 record and a 16-fight winning streak tied with Anderson Silva for the longest in UFC history, reinforcing why he remains the massive betting favorite.
The split from two Fighting Nerds teammates adds intrigue to a bout already drawing upset picks from several fighters ahead of the 170-pound main event.