Islam Makhachev has again shown why he is considered one of the UFC’s pound-for-pound greats, successfully defending his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.

The Russian champion secured a hard-fought unanimous decision victory, with the judges scoring the contest 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 in his favour.

Makhachev’s superior wrestling and grappling proved decisive throughout the five-round battle. Despite Garry’s height and reach advantage, the champion repeatedly dragged the Irishman into his preferred territory, controlling him on the ground and limiting his opportunities to build momentum.

Garry showed tremendous resilience, particularly in the championship rounds, but Makhachev remained composed to close out another successful title defence.

The victory was even more significant as Makhachev extended his winning streak to 17 consecutive UFC victories, surpassing Anderson Silva’s previous record of 16.

At 29-1, Makhachev’s dominance continues to grow, and UFC 330 may be remembered as another landmark night in an already remarkable career.