Islam Makhachev Beats Ian Machado Garry to Win the UFC Welterweight Title at UFC 330

Islam Makhachev added another chapter to his legacy on August 15, beating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision at UFC 330 in Philadelphia to win the UFC welterweight title. It was a dominant, methodical performance from one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport, and it made him a champion in two weight classes.

Control from start to finish

From the opening bell, Makhachev dictated where the fight took place. He used his wrestling relentlessly, put Machado Garry on the mat at will, and controlled the grappling exchanges with the sort of dominance that makes him so hard to beat.

Machado Garry is a sharp, dangerous striker with real length, but he never got the space to work the fight he wanted. Makhachev's pressure and top control kept him pinned, drained him round after round, and let him cruise to a clear unanimous decision.

Two division dominance

The win makes Makhachev a champion in two divisions, an incredible feat in the modern UFC where every division is loaded with killers. He was already the lightweight king for years, and now welterweight title number one belongs to him.

That kind of across division dominance puts him squarely in the greatest of all time conversation, alongside the handful of fighters who have truly ruled two different weight classes.

What comes next

Now the questions come fast. Does he defend the welterweight belt against the top contenders in the division, or does a super fight against another division champion get made? Either way, Makhachev fights are appointment viewing now more than ever.

Watch the fight

Every round of Makhachev vs Machado Garry, and the whole UFC 330 fight card, is up on WATCHPEOPLEFIGHT. Hit the MMA tag for the biggest main events, and the UFC page for every highlight and finish. New fights land all the time, straight from the biggest cards in the world.