Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC welterweight title for the first time at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, defeating Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in a tense five-round main event.
The Russian champion relied heavily on his world-class wrestling and grappling to neutralise Garry’s size and reach advantage. Although the 28-year-old challenger repeatedly managed to escape dangerous positions and found success with his striking, Makhachev remained composed throughout the fight and secured the victory on all three judges’ scorecards.
The victory was particularly significant for Makhachev because it extended his UFC winning streak to 17 consecutive fights, giving him sole possession of the promotion’s record for consecutive victories. He surpassed the previous mark of 16 wins, which had been held by Anderson Silva.
Makhachev Uses Wrestling to Control the Fight
Despite giving up a considerable advantage in height and reach, Makhachev immediately looked to take the fight into his preferred territory.
Early in the opening round, the champion executed a quick single-leg takedown and brought Garry to the canvas. The Irish fighter remained calm under pressure, however, and worked his way back to his feet without taking significant damage.
Makhachev continued to look for opportunities to impose his grappling game as the fight progressed.
In the second round, the Russian connected with a high kick that stunned Garry. The action soon returned to the ground, where Makhachev managed to keep the challenger down for a longer period. Garry once again demonstrated his composure by eventually returning to his feet.
Garry Finds Success in the Third Round
The momentum briefly shifted during the third round.
Garry began finding his range more effectively and landed several hard kicks to Makhachev’s body and lead leg. He also did a better job of defending takedown attempts and preventing the champion from establishing prolonged control on the ground.
However, Makhachev adjusted in the following round and returned to his suffocating wrestling style. His ability to repeatedly close the distance and control the fight on the mat allowed him to regain momentum.
Garry entered the final round knowing he likely needed a decisive finish to take the championship away from Makhachev.
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Makhachev Holds On to Win
The challenger pushed forward in the fifth round and gave everything he had in an attempt to change the outcome.
Makhachev, however, remained disciplined and avoided giving Garry the opening he needed. The champion survived the final exchanges and went on to secure a unanimous decision victory.
After the fight, Makhachev praised his opponent for making the contest difficult and showed respect for Garry’s performance.
“Ian is a great fighter, a good man, and I just respect him. He gave me a hard time,” Makhachev said.
The victory further strengthened his position at the top of the UFC welterweight division and added another major milestone to his career.
Mackenzie Dern Also Retains Her Title
In the UFC 330 co-main event, American-Brazilian fighter Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her women’s strawweight championship.
Dern defeated Canada’s Gillian Robertson by decision, allowing her to leave Philadelphia with the title still around her waist.
With Makhachev and Dern both retaining their championships, UFC 330 ended with both titleholders successfully defending their belts.
For Makhachev, however, the night carried an additional significance. His victory not only kept him atop the welterweight division but also established a new benchmark in UFC history with his record-breaking 17-fight winning streak.
