NewzPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Islam Makhachev seemingly took offense and cut off a question about Ian Machado Garry potentially serving as his toughest challenger to date. “No, it’s not going to be my biggest challenge,” Makhachev said. But everybody knows my game.” Fight fans know Makhachev as a two-division champion and reigning title holder at 170 pounds.
They might soon know Makhachev as the fighter with the longest winning streak in UFC history. Makhachev can indeed topple Anderson Silva and set the UFC record for most consecutive wins at 17 should he defeat Machado Garry in the main event title fight at UFC 330 on Saturday night in Philadelphia. Makhachev (28-1) has not lost since UFC 192 in 2015 and has gone on from that defeat to win the UFC lightweight title in 2022.
He made four straight successful title defenses before he surrendered the title. Makhachev won the welterweight crown in his first attempt when he beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025. The win put Makhachev on par with Silva, a Hall of Famer who won a championship match in UFC’s first Philadelphia show in 2009.
Makhachev joined a short list in UFC history — the company was founded in 1993 — of male fighters who won championships in two weight classes. The others: Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, Randy Couture, Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn, Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.
The 34-year-old Makhachev is smart enough to know that, even as a heavy betting favorite to defend his title, Machado Garry is more than “just good.” Machado Garry (17-1) just might be the biggest threat yet to end Makhachev’s winning streak and walk out of Philadelphia as the new champion. His only career loss came in a 2024 decision, and he rebounded with two straight wins that thrust the Irishman into a title fight against Makhachev. “For me to go out there against him, who many consider to be a generational talent, they’re starting to talk about him in the GOAT conversation,” Machado Garry said, “for me to go out there and have that as the challenge that I have to go out there and beat to prove I’m not only the champion of the world, but I really truly am the best on the planet, that’s what I want.” Machado Garry lacks a finishing punch but has enough of a versatile skill set to win the bulk of his fights by decision.
Penn, Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.The 34-year-old Makhachev is smart enough to know that, even as a heavy betting favorite to defend his title, Machado Garry is more than “just good."Machado Garry (17-1) just might be the biggest threat yet to end Makhachev's winning streak and walk out of Philadelphia as the new champion.
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