There may not have been any brawls, shoves, or even serious insults at Thursday night's UFC 330 pre-fight press conference, but the tension was still very high.
UFC welterweight champ Islam Makhachev, who will headline the card against once-beaten Irish tactician Ian Machado Garry, was full of confidence, and barely gave his opponent a glance throughout the 20-ish minutes they were on stage together. Garry, on the other hand, was extremely respectful, and in fact complimentary of his opponent, but still vowed to shake up the MMA world with a win on Saturday.
The UFC 330 co-headliners were a little more combative, but still tame. Strawweight champ Mackenzie Dern continued to downplay her challenger Gillian Robertson, who vowed to win in style when they're locked in the Octagon together in a little more than 48 hours.
In case you missed it, here's how it all went down:
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There's no doubt that Ian Machado Garry is quite a bit taller than Islam Makhachev. Their press conference face-off proved it.
Still, the champ looked absolutely locked in, and frankly unfazed by the challenge ahead.
This is going to be an awesome fight.
Dern and Robertson had a pretty tame face off, but both seem confident. Time for the main event.
After about 20 minutes, the UFC 330 press conference is almost over.
The stage is now being cleared so the headliners and co-headliners can face off.
Gillian Robertson isn't worried about grappling with BJJ champ Mackenzie Dern. Her priority is dishing out "violence" of all kinds on the night.
Garry is clearly a Makhachev fan, despite the stakes of their fight.
"He's the best fighter on the planet," the Irishman said.
Makhachev didn't seem to be feeling it.
"We are not friends," he said in response. Ice cold.
There's a justifiable amount of frustration about the lack of Philadelphia fighters on this Philadelphia card.
A journalist asked Dana White about it. At first the UFC boss didn't hear the question. When he did, he didn't seem to care.
He said he'll ask his matchmakers.
Makhachev claims beating Garry won't be the biggest win of his career. That honor goes to winning the lightweight and welterweight titles.
Fair enough, honestly.
Garry hears the fans boing, but is undaunted. He vows to silence them on Saturday.
"You consider him to be the greatest martial artist walking the earth right now," Garry said. "When I beat him, you'll all shut your mouth and call me great."
As for how he feels about the fan disdain?
"I couldn't give a f**k."
There's some heat between Dern and Robertson ahead of their strawweight title fight.
Robertson is ready to settle it.
"I don't think we're supposed to like each other," she said. "I feel like she's been diminishing my skills."
This is not a warm reception for Ian Machado Garry. The fans were booing before the first word left his mouth at the UFC 330 pre-fight press conference, and didn't stop till he finished speaking.
Despite that, he calls himself a "master of manipulation" who will out-class Makhachev this weekend.
"I'm excited," he said.
If Islam Makhachev wins this weekend, he'll break Anderson Silva's record for longest win-streak in UFC history, at 17. He says he'll beat that record, and surpass it.
He wants 20 straight.
After a very slight delay, Makhachev, Garry, Dern and Robertson are all on stage. None of these four are known for being overly dramatic or controversial. In fact they're all fairly subdued. But you never know what will happen at a UFC press conference.
The UFC 330 pre-fight press conference in Philadelphia is expected to kick off in five minutes.ย
Islam Makhachev, Ian Machado Garry, Mackenzie Dern, and Gillian Robertson all seem like consummate professionals, so we hopefully they all show up on time.
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