Makhachev Defends Welterweight Belt, Tops Garry at UFC 330

Islam Makhachev defended his UFC welterweight title for the first time at UFC 330, beating Ian Machado Garry by decision in Philadelphia to push his winning streak to 17 straight, the longest run in UFC history.

What Happened at UFC 330

Makhachev's win over Machado Garry marked his first title defense since moving up from lightweight and capturing the 170-pound belt. The victory stretched his winning streak to 17 in a row, a number that now stands alone atop the UFC record book. Machado Garry pushed him deep into the fight defensively, fending off takedown and submission attempts for long stretches, but it wasn't enough to sway the judges' scorecards.

The result also reshaped how people should think about Makhachev at welterweight. He isn't finishing people the way he did at 155 pounds, where he closed out eight of his final nine fights early. At welterweight he's now 0-2 on finishes, leaning instead on the kind of grinding, control-heavy performance that keeps bigger, longer opponents from ever getting comfortable. That's a different brand of dominance than fight fans got used to during his lightweight reign, but it's arguably just as hard to solve from a game-planning standpoint.

In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern retained her UFC strawweight title, beating Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision for her first defense of the belt.

Betting Angle

Makhachev's shift toward a grinding, decision-based style at welterweight is the detail bettors should track going forward. He's not the finishing threat at 170 pounds that he was at 155, so anyone backing him going forward should expect the value to sit more in decision and round-total markets than in knockout or submission props. As long as he stays at welterweight, he'll keep opening as a significant favorite against the rest of the division, with his ground control likely to be the deciding factor bookmakers and bettors price around.

Dern's title defense sets up her biggest betting story yet: a matchup with Zhang Weili would be the fight that finally tests whether her grappling holds up against elite standup, and it's the one worth watching once a date gets attached.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Islam Makhachev win at UFC 330?

Yes, Islam Makhachev beat Ian Machado Garry by decision at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, defending his UFC welterweight title for the first time and extending his winning streak to 17 fights.

What is Islam Makhachev's UFC winning streak?

Islam Makhachev's win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 pushed his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights, the longest in UFC history.

Who won the co-main event at UFC 330?

Mackenzie Dern retained her UFC strawweight title at UFC 330, beating Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision in her first defense of the belt.