Makhachev, Dern make history in UFC 330 title victories

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The UFC arrived in the city of Brotherly Love with two championship bouts, each with upsets on the minds of international contenders looking to buck the trends. Islam Makhachev and Mackenzie Dern respectively, were not listening to any of that.

The UFC's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, defeated Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision, 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. He extended his winning streak to 17 straight victories and moved past Anderson Silva for the longest such streak in UFC history. 

Makhachev (29-1) controlled the opening round with early leg kicks before taking Garry down and settling into top control. It was a methodical opening five minutes and an easy 10-9 for the champion.  

In round two Makhachev landed a filthy head kick that sent Garry crashing to the canvas before immediately jumping on him and returning to his suffocating ground game. Two rounds in, the Irishman was getting rag dolled around the Octagon. Garry, however, was not going away. 

The 28-year-old Irishman put together a valiant defensive effort in the third round, using his length to keep Makhachev at distance, controlling portions of the dance. Garry also managed to bloody Makhachev's right eye, giving the champion a visible reminder that this would not be a complete walkover. 

Makhachev's Dagestani power style of wrestling eventually proved to be too much. The champion kept finding ways to close the distance, get Garry to the mat and dictate the pace. Garry's length created problems, but Makhachev's ability to turn a striking exchange into a wrestling sequence ultimately decided the fight. 

After the final horn, Makhachev showed the same respect for Garry that he had shown throughout the fight. 

“He is a good fighter, great man, and I respect him,” Makhachev said.  

The victory comes nearly 11 years after Makhachev last tasted defeat, dating back to October 2015. Since then, he's built one of the most dominant runs in modern MMA. 

Earlier in the night, Mackenzie Dern put on her own grappling masterclass. 

The Brazilian fighting out of Huntington Beach (17-5) dominated Gillian Robertson for five rounds in her first title defense, repeatedly taking the Canadian down and controlling the fight from the top. 

Dern's punches were crisp, her transitions smooth, and each submission attempt constantly showed her prowess on the mat. She nearly finished Robertson with a rear-naked choke at the end of the opening round and continued threatening all five rounds.  

Sporting her trademark bright pink hair, Robertson offered little resistance as Dern dictated the grappling exchanges. Dern would retain her title with a similar unanimous decision, 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 score.  

Afterward, Dern admitted she was hoping for the submission. There are levels to the grappling game, and Dern made sure everyone in Philadelphia saw the difference. 

The card also featured a pair of memorable finishes. Charles Johnson synched in a rare Scottish Twister submission, adding one of the night's most unusual and thrilling finishes. 

Then came Jalin Turner. “The Tarantula” needed just 39 seconds to put Kaue Fernandes away, landing a vicious left hand before swarming with devasting ground strikes. A jubilant Philly crowd erupted as Fernandes hit the canvas as the referee stepped in.  

Earlier in the night one of the more emotional moments came from lightweight veteran, Edson Barboza Jr. At 40-years-old he called it a career following a tough loss to Esteban Ribovics. 

The legendary Brazilian striker left his gloves in the Octagon and walked away featuring a resume filled with spectacular kicks and brutal knockouts. 

Philadelphia is known for a good underdog story, yet on this night it was the upper echelon of championship athlete that ruled the night. 

Next Up

UFC 331 takes place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA on September 19, 2026.