Islam Makhachev cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant champions in UFC history on Sunday, grinding out a unanimous decision victory over a game Ian Machado Garry to retain his welterweight title and set a new promotional record with 17 consecutive wins.
The Russian champion leaned on his suffocating grappling and veteran composure to neutralize the 28-year-old Irish challenger over five tense rounds at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. Despite giving up significant height and reach, Makhachev repeatedly dragged the fight to the mat and controlled the tempo, earning scores of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46 from the judges.
Garry’s Early Resistance Fades Against Relentless Pressure
Garry entered the bout as a dangerous striker with a clear physical edge, but Makhachev wasted no time erasing that advantage. In the opening round, the champion shot for a lightning-quick single-leg takedown and planted Garry on the canvas within the first minute. The challenger showed poise, working back to his feet without absorbing significant damage.
The second round brought the fight’s most dramatic moment. Makhachev landed a head kick that visibly stunned Garry, immediately following with another takedown that left the Irishman flat on his back in the center of the cage. Once again, Garry survived, scrambling to his feet as Makhachev hunted for submissions.
Champion Shuts Down Late Surge from Irish Challenger
Garry found his best success in the third round, finally establishing his range and attacking Makhachev’s lead leg and body with punishing kicks. For a stretch, the challenger looked like a legitimate threat, stuffing takedown attempts and forcing the champion to reset. But Makhachev responded in the fourth by returning to his smothering top game, smothering Garry against the fence and draining his energy.
Needing a finish in the final round to steal the belt, Garry emptied his gas tank in pursuit of a knockout. Makhachev, however, stayed disciplined, circling away from danger and clinching when necessary to run out the clock.
“Ian is a great fighter, a good man, and I just respect him,” Makhachev said after the fight. “He gave me a hard time, but I still prove [myself] every fight. Thank you for this match.”
Dern Retains Strawweight Crown in Co-Main Event
In the co-main event, American-Brazilian Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her women’s strawweight title with a hard-fought decision victory over Canada’s Gillian Robertson. Dern used her world-class jiu-jitsu to control large portions of the fight, though Robertson’s toughness kept the bout competitive until the final horn.
The win extends Dern’s title reign and further cements her status as one of the most dangerous grapplers in women’s mixed martial arts. Robertson, despite the loss, proved she belongs among the division’s elite with a gritty performance against the champion.
Makhachev’s Historic Streak Puts Him in Rare Company
With 17 straight UFC victories, Makhachev now stands alone atop the promotion’s all-time consecutive wins list. The streak includes dominant title defenses against elite competition and a win over former pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski. His latest triumph over a rising star like Garry only adds weight to the argument that Makhachev belongs in the conversation for the greatest lightweight and welterweight fighters in MMA history.
The question now turns to what’s next for the champion. With the welterweight division cleared of immediate challengers, a move back down to lightweight for a superfight or a clash with another pound-for-pound contender could be on the horizon. For Garry, the loss is a setback but hardly a career-ender. At 28, he showed flashes of brilliance against the sport’s best and will likely return as an even more dangerous version of himself.
