Islam Makhachev couldn't hear what Ian Machado Garry was saying when he told him to shut up. Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) makes his first welterweight title defense against Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in Saturday's UFC 330 main event (Paramount+) at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. During Thursday's pre-fight press conference, Machado Garry wanted to answer a question on Makhachev's behalf to compliment his greatness, but the champion surprisingly told him to "shut up."
"Please, shut up." Ian Machado Garry tried to answer a question about Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov on Islam Makhachev's behalf, and the champ wasn't having it. #UFC330pic.twitter.com/6vV6j6UW1H — MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 13, 2026 Makhachev explains why he was uncharacteristically disrespectful. "Bro, honestly I don't hear nothing there, and I don't understand what he said, that's why," Makhachev said on Anatomy of a Fighter. "It's no disrespect. It's OK, bro." Makhachev's mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was not a fan of the way he handled that interaction, and mocked his English in the process. "I told these guys, brother. I paid for their English teachers one year – they don't learn nothing," Nurmagomedov said. "Ian Garry was talking very nicely about him, and he said, 'Shut up.' Be nice, brother. ... Brother, sometimes maybe you don't like somebody, but when somebody give you respect, just at least be quiet. Don't say shut up." Makhachev continued to justify himself, and took a dig back at Nurmagomedov for accidentally calling a Philly cheesesteak a "Philly cheesecake." "I don't hear what I say, bro, because the crowd was going crazy there," Makhachev said. "Also, it's not good when someone is talking and jump and say something. Bro, let me finish. Interrupt. ... California cheesecake, yes." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Khabib scolds Islam Makhachev for telling Ian Machado Garry to 'shut up'