Javier Mendez Backs 17-2 Ian Machado Garry After UFC 330 Loss as Dana White Questions Instinct

Q: Why did the winning champion's coach defend the defeated challenger against the UFC boss's harsh critique?

Javier Mendez defended Ian Machado Garry because, from the winning camp’s perspective, Garry’s behavior did not look like a lack of “killer instinct” at all; it looked like composure, confidence, and a style choice that nearly made the fight very difficult for Islam Makhachev. Mendez said Garry’s relaxed body language before and during the bout—shaking hands, smiling, staying loose—showed a strong mindset rather than hesitation. In his view, not every fighter performs best by forcing aggression. Some are sharper when they remain calm, and Mendez believed Garry was effective in the early exchanges precisely because he stayed that way. He also had practical reasons to push back on Dana White’s criticism: Garry had impressed him technically. Mendez praised Garry’s size, takedown defense, and grappling awareness, noting that he prevented Makhachev from fully controlling him on the ground and made the champion work hard over five rounds. That made it harder to argue Garry had mentally shrunk from the moment. There was also an element of professional respect. Makhachev’s team, including Mendez, saw Garry as a legitimate elite contender, not someone who failed because he was too polite. By defending him, Mendez was effectively saying the challenger lost to a great champion after a high-level performance, not because of a character flaw. That is why he went further and said Garry still has the potential to become a UFC champion.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Junkie · Aug 18

Javier Mendez rejected Dana White's claim that Ian Machado Garry lacked "killer instinct" in Saturday's UFC 330 main event, saying the challenger instead looked unusually confident in a unanimous-decision loss to Islam Makhachev.
Mendez said Garry's relaxed approach — including greeting coaches before the fight — did not signal passivity, but a mindset that can unsettle opponents more than forcing aggression.
The coach also praised Garry's performance against the 29-1 welterweight champion, citing his size, ground technique and ability to stop Makhachev from fully dominating key positions.
Despite the defeat, Mendez said Garry still looks like a future UFC champion and remains "No. 1" in his eyes, broadening the debate from one loss to Garry's long-term standing at welterweight.