Islam Makhachev Breaks UFC Win Streak Record, Retains Welterweight Title Over Ian Garry at UFC 330

Islam Makhachev is officially the greatest winner in UFC history. The pound-for-pound king turned back a game Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision at UFC 330 on Saturday night in Philadelphia, extending his win streak to 17 straight fights and eclipsing Anderson Silva’s long-standing promotional record.

Fighting at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Makhachev made the first defense of his welterweight championship after moving up from lightweight, where he had already established himself as one of the sport’s most dominant grapplers. Garry, unbeaten aside from a lone loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, entered the main event as the biggest test of his career and pushed the champion through all five rounds before the judges turned in their scorecards.

How the Fight Played Out

All three judges sided with Makhachev, scoring the bout 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. The Dagestani champion leaned on his trademark wrestling in the later rounds, spending extended stretches with back control and chipping away with strikes to seal the decision. It was not a dominant finish, but it was enough to keep the belt in Makhachev’s hands and add another signature win to a resume that already included a decision victory over Jack Della Maddalena to capture the 170-pound title at UFC 322 last November.

With the win, Makhachev improved to 29-1 and now holds successful title defenses in two separate weight classes, a distinction only a handful of fighters in UFC history can claim. Garry, who had campaigned for years for a shot at UFC gold, falls to 17-2 but leaves Philadelphia having given the champion his toughest test since moving up in weight.

Prates and Morales Clash Over Next Shot

The story didn’t end when the final horn sounded. Backup fighter Michael Morales, who weighed in Friday in case either man couldn’t compete, and surging contender Carlos Prates were both in attendance Saturday night, and footage circulating online showed the two welterweights in a heated exchange in the crowd over who deserves the next crack at the title.

Makhachev didn’t dodge the question when it was put to him during the Paramount+ post-fight show. Asked directly who should be next, the champion made his preference clear.

“If you ask me today, Shavkat is not fighting, Prates still fighting, still active,” Makhachev said. “Morales also is good, but I don’t remember the last time he fought. If you ask who is more deserving, I think Carlos Prates.”

It’s a position Makhachev had signaled well before fight week. Prates enters the conversation off consecutive finishes of former champion Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena, keeping him active and relevant in the title picture. Morales, meanwhile, carries an unblemished 19-0 record and seven UFC wins but hasn’t fought since stopping Sean Brady last November, and Makhachev has repeatedly questioned why the Ecuadorian has stayed on the sidelines rather than taking a fight to solidify his case.

What Comes Next for the Welterweight Division

Serving as an official fight-week backup doesn’t guarantee a title shot on its own, and Makhachev’s comments suggest the promotion could lean toward Prates for the champion’s next title defense rather than automatically rewarding Morales for standing by. Rakhmonov, the only man to beat Garry, remains sidelined and out of the immediate conversation as well, further narrowing the field.

For now, nothing is official. But with Makhachev extending his historic streak and making his stance on the next challenger clear in real time, the welterweight division enters an active offseason with Prates holding the inside track and Morales facing pressure to get back in the cage and make his case the traditional way — with a fight.