PHILADELPHIA: Islam Makhachev used his dominant grappling to earn a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry and retain his UFC welterweight title in the main event of UFC 330 on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) defeated Garry (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) by scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47, setting a new UFC record with his 17th consecutive victory in the promotion. The previous record of 16 straight wins was held by UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva.
“The record is good, but the win is better,” Makhachev said through an interpreter. “Garry is a great fighter, a good man, and I respect him. He gave me a hard time, but I still prove myself every fight.”
Respect after five rounds 🤝 #UFC330 pic.twitter.com/9civbOGTNB
— UFC (@ufc) August 16, 2026
The 28-year-old Irish challenger provided problems for the champion throughout the tense five-round battle, but Makhachev’s wrestling proved the difference.
At a considerable disadvantage in height and reach, Makhachev brought the fight to the mat early in the first round with a single-leg takedown. Garry remained calm and worked back to his feet without absorbing significant damage.
Makhachev’s most significant offense came in the second round when he landed a high kick to Garry’s head that dropped the challenger. The fight again went to the ground, with Garry left on his back in the center of the cage, but again he survived and returned to his feet.
Garry found his range midway through the third round, landing heavy kicks to Makhachev’s body and lead leg while avoiding takedowns for most of the frame. But Makhachev returned to his grappling in the fourth round to regain control.
Likely needing a finish to claim the belt, Garry pressed in the final round, but the champion managed to stay out of trouble and secure enough control to win on all three scorecards.
In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern (17-5) retained her women’s strawweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Gillian Robertson (17-9). Dern won by scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47, using her grappling to dominate the Canadian challenger.
“I definitely wanted to submit her, that was the goal,” Dern said. “But in the fourth and fifth rounds, my legs started to get tired. I try to get submissions in all my fights, but anyone fighting for the belt, they are going to have decent defense.”
Dern took Robertson’s back multiple times and appeared close to a rear-naked choke finish in the first round. She controlled the first four rounds before Robertson took the fifth on the scorecards.
