Makhachev to defend welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia
Islam Makhachev makes the first defence of his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Saturday, with Mackenzie Dern defending her strawweight belt against Gillian Robertson in the co-main event.
Makhachev had set the record for UFC lightweight title fight victories (five) before vacating the belt in January 2025 and enters the bout as a former lightweight world champion chasing Anderson Silva's record (16) for the longest win streak in UFC history. The 34-year-old Russian described Machado Garry as his "next target" at the weigh-ins and told supporters he is "ready to make all people happy" with victory. Machado Garry, 28, has won 10 of his 11 fights since making his UFC debut in 2021, his sole loss coming against Shavkat Rakhmonov, and holds an overall record of 17 wins and one defeat.
Both fighters weighed 170lb (12st 2lb) for the contest, and Machado Garry told booing fans they "should be grateful" about watching "two of the biggest fighters ever in this sport" at the weigh-ins.
Speaking on Tom Aspinall's YouTube channel, Aspinall said: "I think Islam is going get the win. He can definitely get the submission finish. I think he can get it to the ground. I can see Ian Machado Garry having success in some of the stand-up. He's going to have to play a boring style to be effective and try to do it for 25 minutes. I think Islam eventually gets it down; he'll win rounds because of that, and not only that, he can get the finish."
On Alexander Volkanovski's YouTube channel, Volkanovski offered a mixed view: "I definitely see Ian Machado Garry winning on the feet but Islam Makhachev is an elite grappler and I see him taking it to the ground and dominating it on there." He added: "Ian Machado Garry is going beat Islam Makhachev by decision. I don't know unanimous decision or split decision, but it's going to be a decision." Volkanovski also said: "It's hard to be against Islam Makhachev, it looks like the division fits perfect to him. Ian Machado Garry has amazing footwork, amazing head movement, a really good distance, but I think I'm going with Islam Makhachev for sure." He concluded: "I think Ian gets it done - I think Ian's that good. He's so big, he's so long, and he's so confident. He's not going to go in there and get single-legged, easy dumped. He's going to scoop back, he's going to throw, and it's going to be a difficult fight. I'm excited for it."
Speaking on Sean O'Malley's YouTube channel, O'Malley said: "I think Ian Machado Garry can knock out anyone so I think he will be able to win the fight." On the same platform another speaker said: "I think Ian Machado Garry's getting choked to sleep. I hope Makhachev goes in there and manhandles him. His defence isn't bad, and his footwork is what keeps him in it, but he's never grappled with a guy like Makhachev."
On the Deep Water podcast a contributor said: "Islam will beat Ian, he's the best - it's as simple as that. He will take Ian down and choke him." The podcast also carried the view that: "Ian Machado Garry is definitely a tough opponent, a very good striker, but Islam once again his goal is going to be to bring the fight to the ground. I think if he's [Makhachev] able to do that he's going to have an edge. If Ian Machado Garry is able to keep it on the feet, Ian is going to have an edge. So it's going to be interesting." Another contributor added: "Ian is an extremely skilled guy. I think he's got championship material in him. I don't doubt that he can make this a good fight. He's just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had he got a fight with Jack Della Maddalena, I think it would be 50/50. But here's Islam Makhachev, the wrong guy at the wrong time."
Both title fights — Islam Makhachev v Ian Machado Garry and Mackenzie Dern v Gillian Robertson — are scheduled to take place at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Saturday, where the main event will decide whether Makhachev extends his streak toward a potential 17th successive win or Machado Garry hands him a first defeat.