Islam Makhachev will defend his welterweight title for the first time against Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August.
The formidable Makhachev (28-1, 5 KOs, 13 submissions) became just the 11th fighter in UFC history to earn two-division champion status when he dethroned Jack Della Maddalena last November on his move up a weight class.
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The Russian, 34, previously held the lightweight title from late 2022 until last spring, setting the record for the most successful title-defences in UFC history (4).
He will now face the test of Machado Garry (17-1, 7 KOs, 1 submission), who has established himself in the upper echelons of the rankings at 170lbs.
Islam Makhachev will defend his welterweight title for the first time (Getty)
Machado Garry is on a two-fight win streak after beating dangerous rising star Carlos Prates by decision, before overcoming former champion Belal Muhammad in November, a week after Makhachev became champion.
The 28-year-old has bounced back from his only career loss against Shavkat Rakhmonov which came in December 2024, who is still yet to get his long-touted shot at the title due to persistent injury problems.
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Makhachev had previously suggested that there were better alternatives for a title shot, overlooking Machado Garry and hinting that Prates or Michael Morales would offer a more interesting matchup for the UFC.
But the UFC has now pulled the trigger on a first welterweight title shot for Machado Garry, headlining in Philadelphia on 30 August.
Ian Machado Garry is getting his long-awaited title shot (Getty)
In the co-main event, women’s strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern will also make her first title defence against Gillian Robertson.
Dern (16-5, 8 submissions) outpointed Virna Jandiroba for the vacant title in October to claim UFC gold for the first time in her career.
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She will be tasked with the challenge of Robertson (17-8, 3 KOs, 9 submissions), who is on a five-fight win streak and most recently beat Amanda Lemos in March.
The rest of the UFC 330 card will be announced in due course.
