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Conor McGregor went from calling his shot on Ian Machado Garry before UFC 330 to publicly backing him after Islam Makhachev outpointed Garry in Philadelphia. The one-line reply was pure Irish corner-man energy, even after the upset bid got dragged into deep water. Garry lost a unanimous decision in the UFC 330 main event, taking just the second defeat of his pro career while Makhachev pushed his UFC winning streak to a record 17 straight. McGregor had picked the fellow former Cage Warriors champion to shock Makhachev with a head-kick knockout before fight night, so the post-fight reaction had a little extra spice attached. Watch the post below. 🚨Ian Garry reflects on the fight and Conor McGregor sends him an encouraging message on Instagram. 🇮🇪👊 🗣"I'm not in this world to live up to other people's expectations. I'm here to live up to mine and I know what I could have done." 🗣"I didn't do it tonight and it's only… pic.twitter.com/e1h3iYccXi — FightLuck (@FightluckBet) August 17, 2026 In the clip shared on X, Garry said, “I’m not in this world to live up to other people’s expectations. I’m here to live up to mine and I know what I could have done.” McGregor’s reply was shorter and louder, as he wrote, “Champion mindset!” McGregor Still Sees The Mindset After UFC 330 The praise matters because Garry did not leave UFC 330 looking for pity. Makhachev controlled enough of the fight to keep the title race locked down, but Garry’s immediate message was built around accountability rather than excuse-making. That is usually the first real test after a title-fight loss, especially when the internet is already warming up the grill. Garry’s welterweight spot is still alive because the division did not watch him get blown out in one exchange. He had moments, stayed durable, and forced Makhachev to work across five rounds. The problem is the same one every contender now has to solve, because Daniel Cormier is already talking about Makhachev in all-time UFC terms after another record night. McGregor’s public backing also keeps the Irish angle hot. He has been tied to his own return chatter for months, while Garry remains the active Irish UFC name trying to climb back toward gold. After the loss, even Sean O’Malley argued Garry can still become UFC welterweight champion, which tells you the performance did not bury him with the people watching the top of the sport. Garry now has to turn the right attitude into the right next matchup. A clean rebound win would do more than any social reply, but McGregor handing him the “Champion mindset!” stamp keeps the conversation moving while the welterweight pack starts circling again.