Islam Makhachev added another historic accomplishment to his résumé at UFC 330, defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision to retain the UFC welterweight championship and claim a record-breaking 17th consecutive UFC victory.
The judges scored the five-round championship fight 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 for Makhachev, who improved his professional MMA record to 29-1.
Makhachev Breaks Anderson Silva's UFC Record
The victory put Makhachev alone in the UFC record books.
Makhachev entered UFC 330 tied with legendary former middleweight champion Anderson Silva at 16 consecutive UFC victories. By defeating Garry, Makhachev pushed his streak to 17 and officially surpassed Silva's longtime mark.
Silva's 16-fight winning streak lasted from 2006 to 2013 and stood as one of the promotion's most celebrated records.
Makhachev has now accomplished something no fighter before him had done: win 17 consecutive UFC fights.
Islam Makhachev Controls Ian Machado Garry
Garry presented an interesting challenge because of his size, reach and striking ability, but Makhachev once again showed why his combination of wrestling, grappling and pressure remains so difficult to solve.
Makhachev consistently worked to control Garry against the cage and on the ground while limiting the challenger's opportunities to establish his preferred striking rhythm.
The champion also showed that Garry had to respect his striking.
One of the biggest moments came in the second round when Makhachev landed a head kick that dropped Garry. The Irish challenger recovered and continued fighting, but Makhachev's ability to combine dangerous striking with elite wrestling gave him multiple ways to control the matchup.
Garry had moments of success, particularly as the fight progressed, but Makhachev remained composed enough to secure the decision on all three judges' scorecards.
Makhachev Retains the UFC Welterweight Championship
The victory was also significant because Makhachev successfully defended his welterweight championship for the first time.
After dominating the lightweight division, Makhachev moved to welterweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena to capture the 170-pound championship in November 2025.
His victory over Garry proved that his success at welterweight wasn't simply about winning the belt. Makhachev is now beginning to build a championship run in a second weight class.
That puts Makhachev in increasingly rare territory when discussing the greatest fighters in UFC history.
Is Islam Makhachev Becoming the UFC GOAT?
The debate surrounding Makhachev's place among the greatest MMA fighters ever will only grow after UFC 330.
He is now 29-1, has held UFC championships in two divisions and owns the longest winning streak in UFC history.
Makhachev's championship résumé also includes victories over elite opponents such as Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski, Jack Della Maddalena and Ian Machado Garry.
Breaking Silva's consecutive-win record gives Makhachev another major statistical argument when his career is compared with UFC legends including Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson and his longtime friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The bigger question may now be how far Makhachev can extend the record.
Seventeen straight wins is already unprecedented in UFC history. If Makhachev continues successfully defending the welterweight championship and pushes the streak toward 18, 19 or even 20 victories, his case as one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen will become increasingly difficult to ignore.
What's Next for Islam Makhachev?
The UFC welterweight division still offers several potentially dangerous challengers.
Names such as Carlos Prates, Michael Morales and Shavkat Rakhmonov could eventually factor into the championship picture, giving Makhachev opportunities to continue strengthening his legacy at 170 pounds.
For now, however, UFC 330 belongs to Makhachev.
He arrived in Philadelphia tied with one of the greatest fighters in UFC history.
He left with the welterweight championship still around his waist — and the UFC's longest winning streak all to himself.
Islam Makhachev: 17 straight UFC victories and counting.
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