Islam Makhachev reinforced his position as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter with a dominant victory over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. Makhachev secured the win, extending his impressive UFC win record.
Makhachev controlled the fight from the outset, taking Machado Garry down on his first attempt in the opening round. Despite Machado Garry's efforts to defend on the ground, Makhachev maintained pressure against the cage. The second round saw Makhachev land a head kick that knocked Machado Garry down, followed by a slam. Although Machado Garry survived both rounds, Makhachev consistently asserted his dominance, particularly in grappling exchanges.
Machado Garry managed to blood Makhachev's face with strikes in a clinch, but it was not enough to sway the judges. Makhachev achieved seven unanswered takedowns and accumulated over 12 minutes of control time, compared to Machado Garry's 34 seconds. While Machado Garry landed 29 significant strikes to Makhachev's 22, the judges favored Makhachev's overall performance.
Following the bout, the fighters embraced in a show of respect, with Machado Garry raising Makhachev's arm in victory. "To all my fans, Ireland, everybody, I'm sorry I couldn't get this done," Machado Garry stated after the fight. "But I stand here as a man proud of what I've done, proud of where I came from and proud where this will take me. To all the fans who doubt me, I'll be back."
At 28 years old, Machado Garry has a considerable career ahead, while Makhachev's win further bolsters claims that he is nearing consideration as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time.