The bridge of Islam Makhachev’s nose, right cheek and forehead were scraped or sliced open and his left cheek sported a baseball-sized bruise after taking a few too many brutal blows to the face.
He may not have looked the part, yet Makhachev was again a winner – all while toppling one of UFC’s most enduring records.
Makhachev set the UFC record with his 17th straight victory, reaching the milestone with a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry to successfully defend his 170-pound championship in the main event of UFC 330 on Saturday night.
The result also meant Dana White got one over on Eddie Hearn.
A potential victory for Garry, who recently signed with Hearn’s Matchroom, would have seen English promoter Hearn have two UFC champions in his stable of athletes – something that would certainly irk UFC brass White.
Hearn previously signed UFC heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, 33, as a counter move to White stealing away longtime Matchroom athlete, Conor Benn, 29.
Islam Makhachev (right) set a new UFC record for most consecutive victories as he defeated Ian Machado Garry
But there was never really any doubt, and Makhachev claimed a deserved victory via decision.
Makhachev won 49-46 on two scorecards and 48-47 on the third in a competitive five-round fight that never rose to the level of greatness.
‘He gave me a hard time,’ Makhachev said. ‘But I still prove it every fight.’
Makhachev (29-1) was tied with UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva with 16 straight victories and has not lost since UFC 192 in 2015. Makhachev won the welterweight crown in his first attempt when he beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025.
He took his share of head kicks in his first title defense, notably in the third round that did most of the cosmetic damage, yet bested a record set by Silva that had stood for 13 years.
‘If he keeps going like he says he’s going to keep going, it might never be beaten,’ UFC CEO Dana White said.
The 34-year-old Makhachev nearly ended the fight in the second when he threw his left foot and caught Machado Garry flush with a head kick that dropped the challenger to his rear end. Makhachev pounced with a series of punches that had the sellout crowd of 19,238 fans roaring in anticipation of a quick finish, only for Machado Garry – serenaded throughout with obscenity-laced chants – to hold on and finish the round.
Machado Garry (17-2) won the third round on all three scorecards and rallied in the fifth round with seven significant strikes landed to none for Makhachev.
A Muchado Garry win would have seen Eddie Hearn claim bragging rights after signing the UFC star to his Matchroom stable
Yet it wasn’t enough to topple one of UFC’;s great fighters.
‘I believed in my heart and soul I was better than him tonight, and he won,’ Machado Garry said. ‘No complaints, no excuses. I’m 28, I have a decade of domination already. This man won tonight.’
Makhachev – who held the lightweight championship and has seven total wins in title fights – continues to dominate no matter the weight class.
UFC held only its third numbered card in Philadelphia and first fight event overall in the city since 2019. UFC 101 was held in August 2009, and UFC 133 was in August 2011.
Philly fight fans were in the mood to make up for lost time and about packed the arena and were wild for the punishing action the preliminary fights delivered hours before the main card was set to start.
