UFC 330: Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry delivered a thrilling main card Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with the first three bouts ending in spectacular finishes before the championship fights went the distance.
Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC welterweight championship, defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision, 49-46, 49-46, 48-47.
The Dagestani champion controlled much of the opening round with his elite grappling, establishing his wrestling game early and forcing Machado Garry to work from difficult positions.
Makhachev appeared to deliver his biggest moment of the fight in the second round when he connected with a right hand before following with a left high kick out of the clinch. The combination briefly put Machado Garry on the canvas.
But the Irish challenger refused to fade. Machado Garry began finding his rhythm in the third round, out-landing Makhachev as the champion appeared to slow down. His striking and movement allowed him to make the fight increasingly competitive and demonstrated why he entered the bout viewed as one of the most dangerous challengers in the division.
Makhachev adjusted in the fourth, returning to the wrestling that had given him success earlier. He repeatedly took Machado Garry down and stayed attached to the challenger, limiting his opportunities to establish his striking.
Machado Garry still managed to land the cleaner strikes during stretches of the round, but Makhachev’s control time proved valuable. The champion saved perhaps his strongest wrestling sequence for the fifth.
Makhachev put Machado Garry on the canvas, took his back and maintained the position for virtually the remainder of the fight. When the scorecards were announced, Makhachev had his hand raised once again.
The victory gave him his 17th consecutive UFC win, extending his remarkable winning streak inside the Octagon. Makhachev also became only the fifth two-division champion to successfully defend titles in both divisions.
For Machado Garry, the result was disappointing, but his performance offered plenty of encouragement. He falls to 17-2 but showed that he can compete with the sport’s pound-for-pound elite.
Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her UFC women’s strawweight title for the first time, defeating Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision, 49-46, 49-46, 48-47.
Dern immediately established her Brazilian jiu-jitsu advantage, dominating Robertson on the canvas during the opening round and largely shutting down the challenger’s offense.
The champion continued controlling the grappling exchanges in the second, dictating where the fight took place and keeping Robertson from establishing any sustained momentum.
Robertson began finding more success in the third round, but she couldn’t generate enough offense to seriously threaten Dern’s lead on the scorecards.
Dern returned to her grappling dominance early in the fourth, taking Robertson down and controlling the action for most of the round. The fifth round, however, gave Robertson an opportunity to finish the fight on a positive note.
With only seconds remaining in the fourth, Robertson secured a takedown and carried that momentum into the final round. She maintained top position throughout the fifth, keeping Dern on her back and controlling the champion for the entire five minutes.
It wasn’t the ideal way for Dern to finish a title defense, but the damage had already been done on the judges’ scorecards. Dern swept the cards to earn her fourth consecutive victory and retain the championship.
Still, the final round leaves an interesting question heading into Dern’s next title defense. The strawweight division has no shortage of contenders waiting for their opportunity, and Robertson’s late surge demonstrated that Dern can still be challenged when an opponent is able to neutralize her submission game.
For now, though, the title remains firmly in Dern’s hands. UFC 330’s main card ultimately belonged to the champions. Makhachev once again demonstrated the versatility, composure and wrestling control that have made him one of the UFC’s most dominant fighters.
Dern successfully navigated a competitive challenge to keep her strawweight crown. The first three main-card fights provided explosive finishes, but the championship bouts delivered the kind of tactical battles that can define an entire UFC event.
Makhachev leaves Philadelphia with another title defense, another record to his name and his incredible UFC winning streak intact.
Dern leaves with her belt although the challengers waiting behind her now have plenty of reason to believe they can give the champion a much tougher fight the next time she steps inside the Octagon.
