Makhachev, Garry Trade Final Barbs Before UFC 330 Welterweight Title Fight

Q: Will Makhachev shatter Anderson Silva's legendary streak, or can Garry's size and striking pull off a massive UFC 330 upset?

Makhachev is the safer pick to break Anderson Silva’s UFC winning-streak record, but Garry has a real upset path if he can keep the fight long and force a striking match. The evidence strongly favors Makhachev. He enters UFC 330 on a 16-fight UFC winning streak, is the reigning welterweight champion, and is widely regarded as the sport’s pound-for-pound No. 1. Betting markets have him around a -340 to -360 favorite, and most expert picks lean toward either a Makhachev decision or late submission. His biggest advantage is his ability to dictate where the fight takes place. If he backs Garry to the fence, chains takedowns, and establishes top control, he can drain rounds and remove Garry’s best weapons. Garry’s case is built on style and physicality. He is taller, owns a reach edge, and has the kind of disciplined, technical striking and defensive wrestling that many analysts see as Makhachev’s toughest test at 170. Garry has also shown strong fight IQ in going the distance with elite welterweights and limiting their offense. If he manages range, avoids getting stuck on the fence, and punishes entries, he can make this competitive over five rounds. The biggest question is whether Garry can create enough clean striking time without being controlled. He is not known as a high-volume finisher, which matters against a champion as complete as Makhachev. That makes the upset possible, but still less likely than Makhachev extending the streak and adding another historic win.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Aug 14

Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins in Philadelphia ended with Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry exchanging words in their last faceoff before Saturday’s UFC 330 main event.
Garry framed the bout as his chance to beat the sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and launch a “dominant legacy,” while Makhachev dismissed him as “just next target.”
The stakes extend beyond the belt: Garry is chasing his first UFC title, and Makhachev can set the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history.
UFC 330 begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+, with Mackenzie Dern facing Gillian Robertson in the strawweight title co-main event.