Islam Makhachev solidified his place in mixed martial arts history at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday night. By securing a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) over Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry, the Russian champion successfully defended his welterweight title while extending his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 16 straight wins held by UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva between 2006 and 2013.
Throughout the 25-minute championship bout, Makhachev maintained control by utilizing suffocating top pressure and effective chain wrestling. He complemented his grappling with precise striking, highlighted by a significant head kick in the second round. While Machado Garry remained active in defensive scrambles to avoid being finished, he struggled to generate enough offensive momentum to influence the judges. Reflecting on the result, Machado Garry stated, “I have nothing but respect for Islam. He won. I have no complaints, no excuses.” Makhachev acknowledged the difficulty of the contest, noting, “It’s always hard,” particularly during the final championship rounds.
The co-main event featured a successful first title defense for UFC women’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern. The Phoenix native, who trains out of Southern California, utilized her superior grappling skills to overcome Canada’s Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47). Dern dominated the pace over the five-round duration, consistently pressuring her opponent with submission threats and clinch work. Her most notable offensive sequence occurred in the opening round, where she nearly locked in a rear-naked choke as the buzzer sounded.
Although Dern had expressed her intention to secure a finish during the lead-up to the fight, she remained satisfied with her comprehensive performance against a fellow Brazilian jiujitsu specialist. “She’s good. Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you,” the champion remarked following her victory.
The UFC organization now shifts its focus to the West Coast, with an upcoming event scheduled for next Saturday in Sacramento, California. That card will feature a 13-fight slate, headlined by a five-round middleweight nontitle bout between Anthony Hernandez, representing El Dorado Hills, and Brazil’s Gregory Rodrigues. The report also notes that defeating Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry (17-2 MMA) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) while also setting an impressive reco, islam Makhachev (29-1 MMA) has successfully defended his UFC welterweight championship.
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