Makhachev Retains Welterweight Title Over Garry

Islam Makhachev defended his UFC welterweight title with a clear unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. The win lifted his record to 29-1 and stood as a milestone beyond a single belt.

A head kick shifts the contest

The bout at Xfinity Mobile Arena began with Makhachev landing a takedown within two minutes. In the second round, he dropped Garry with a sharp head kick as the challenger stepped out of a clinch.

Garry rallied in the third with thumping body kicks and sharp calf strikes, and he began shutting down further takedowns. But Makhachev found a decisive answer when it mattered most.

Seventeen straight, one clear record

A crucial fifth-round takedown allowed the champion to take Garry's back and seal the win on scorecards of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. The performance marked his 17th consecutive UFC victory.

That run breaks the hallowed record of 16 straight wins set by Anderson Silva. Makhachev's streak began in September 2016, and this was his first defence of the welterweight crown he took from Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025.

"Ian is a great fighter, a good man, and I respect him," Makhachev told reporters afterwards. "He gave me a hard time, but I still prove it every fight."

The 34-year-old, already a former lightweight champion, remains the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter. His lone career loss sits far in the rear-view mirror, a flash knockout from his second UFC outing in 2015.