Reach Isn't a Shield: Why Makhachev Will Neutralize Garry's Height

In the fight game, we love a good physical outlier. Right now, the chatter surrounding the clash between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry is centered on one thing: the tape measure.

As first reported and discussed by Aaron Bronsteter and Diana Belbita on Sportsnet, there is a prevailing theory that Garry’s height could present a unique problem for the dominant dual-weight champion. The logic is simple—reach and height can keep a grappler at bay, creating a perimeter that is difficult to breach. On paper, Garry has the tools to keep the fight in the center of the Octagon and use his frame to stifle Makhachev's offense.

But here is my take: betting on height against a technician like Makhachev is a fool's errand.

In my opinion, Garry's height isn't a shield; it's a target. When you are the taller man in a fight against a world-class grappler, your center of gravity is higher, and your limbs provide more leverage for a master of the clinch. Makhachev doesn't just wrestle; he dismantles. Once the champion closes the distance—which he has done against far more experienced opposition—that height advantage becomes a liability.

When Makhachev gets inside, the reach advantage vanishes. In the clinch, the fight stops being about who has the longer arms and starts being about who controls the hips and the head. I expect Makhachev to use his grappling to negate Garry's stature, dragging the fight into the deep waters where height doesn't matter and positioning is everything.

Sportsnet's analysis highlights the 'unique problem' Garry's frame poses, but I view it as a temporary obstacle. Makhachev has built a career on solving unique problems. While the pundits focus on the physical dimensions, I'm focusing on the grappling pedigree. Garry may have the height, but Makhachev has the blueprint to bring him down to earth.