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The welterweight championship bout between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry took center stage at UFC 330, held Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Makhachev, currently the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, faced off against Garry, who holds the third-ranked position in the welterweight division alongside Michael Morales.
Makhachev entered the matchup with significant historical implications at stake. The Russian fighter aimed to become only the fifth UFC competitor to successfully defend titles across two different weight classes, joining an elite group that includes Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, and Amanda Nunes. Additionally, a victory would extend his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights, surpassing the legendary Anderson Silva’s promotion record. Makhachev captured welterweight gold in November following a decisive performance against Jack Della Maddalena and previously set the record for most successful lightweight title defenses with four.
Garry, an Irish fighter with a 17-1 record, positioned himself as a challenger ready to make his championship statement. Though opening as an underdog in betting markets, the contender had recently defeated former champion Belal Muhammad and top-ranked Carlos Prates following a setback against Shavkat Rakhmonov earlier in his career. Referee Herb Dean oversaw the bout, which marked a significant opportunity for either fighter to shape the welterweight division’s future trajectory.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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