Islam Makhachev to defend welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia

The matchups

UFC 330 takes place Saturday at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, headlined by two title fights. In the main event, Islam Makhachev, the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the sport and reigning welterweight champion, faces Ian Machado Garry, the UFC’s No. 1-ranked welterweight contender. Garry holds a 17-1 overall record with a 10-1 resume inside the UFC, meaning he carries only one loss in his octagon career.

In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern defends her women’s strawweight title against Gillian Robertson. Dern captured the vacant title in October 2025 after defeating Virna Jandiroba and is making her first title defense. Robertson enters the fight riding a five-fight winning streak, which includes victories over Amanda Lemos, Marina Rodriguez, and Michelle Waterson-Gomez. This marks Robertson’s first opportunity to become a UFC champion.

Makhachev’s path and title history

Makhachev holds a 28-1 record and is making the second defense of his welterweight title. He won the title after moving up from the lightweight division, where he vacated the championship in search of new challenges. In his move to 170 pounds, he defeated Jack Della Maddalena to capture the welterweight belt. According to the sources, Makhachev stands 5’10” with a 70-inch reach, while Garry is listed at 6’3″ with a 74-inch reach, giving the challenger a considerable size advantage on paper.

At the pre-fight press conference held in Philadelphia on Thursday, Garry accused Makhachev of wearing shoes with added height during their face-off. Garry said, “When we are both wearing the same shoes, wait, and see then.” Makhachev replied that he was wearing regular shoes and noted that his listed measurements came from UFC measurements taken 10 or 11 years ago during his debut, and that he has grown since becoming a welterweight.

Garry’s confidence and title prospects

According to CBS Sports, Garry is listed as more than a 3-to-1 betting underdog despite being the No. 1-ranked contender. The 28-year-old Irish fighter has spoken with extreme confidence ahead of the bout. Garry told CBS Sports, “I’ve seen it in my dreams and I’ve seen it in my mind. When I beat Islam Makhachev on Saturday night, it is undeniable that Ian Machado Garry is one of the greatest fighters of all-time.”

Garry also acknowledged that a win over Makhachev would set the stage for significant contention matches. At UFC 330 media day, he stated that Carlos Prates has earned the next title shot, calling Prates the only fighter who deserves it after Prates’ recent victories over former champions Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena. Garry also mentioned a potential rematch with Shavkat Rakhmonov, who dealt Garry his only career loss in 2024. Rakhmonov is currently sidelined with a knee injury with no confirmed return date. Michael Morales is scheduled as the backup fighter for the UFC 330 title bout.

Dern’s strawweight defense

Dern’s strawweight title defense marks her first opportunity to retain the 115-pound crown after claiming it in October 2025. She has won three consecutive fights leading into this matchup. Robertson, meanwhile, brings five straight wins into the bout, establishing herself as a credible challenger after an inconsistent earlier portion of her UFC tenure.

Event details

The pre-fight press conference took place Thursday at 6 p.m. ET from Philadelphia, with the top four fighters from the main and co-main events participating.

Sources

• MMA Fighting — UFC 330 press conference video · Ian Machado Garry reveals ‘there is only one’ person deserving of the next title shot after he beats Islam Makhachev · Between the Links: Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry, UFC 330 buzz, more
• CBS Sports — UFC 330 predictions, odds, best bets: Ian Garry prop and big underdog among top picks to consider · Ian Garry dripping confidence that he will earn welterweight title at UFC 330: ‘I’ve seen it in my dreams’
• MMA Mania

Featured photo: Kevlar via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)