‘We’ll beat all records’: Russian UFC champion makes history

Islam Makhachev has clocked his 17th victory in a row in his welterweight title defeat of Ian Machado Garry Russian MMA champion Islam Makhachev has made UFC history with a commanding welterweight title defense against Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry, notching his 17th straight victory and smashing a UFC record.

UFC 330 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday went the full five rounds, with Makhachev dictating the 25-minute bout through wrestling and ground control while mixing in dynamic striking, including a damaging second-round head kick in Round 2, officially recorded as a knockdown.

Read more Moscow files second claim against World Athletics’ Russia ban While Garry had the edge in striking, landing 161 total strikes to Makhachev’s 144, the latter dominated on the ground, landing six takedowns and 72 ground strikes to Garry’s 14.

He also clocked over 12 minutes of control time to Garry’s 34 seconds.

With no submission attempts, Makhachev’s wrestling proved decisive, with all three judges scoring the fight in his favor.

A former lightweight world champion, Makhachev had not entered the octagon since November, when he won the welterweight title on his debut in the division.

He faced Garry unbeaten for nearly a decade and riding a 16-fight winning streak – a UFC record he shared with Brazilian legend Anderson Silva.

The victory took Makhachev’s overall record to 29 wins and one defeat, while the 28-year-old Garry suffered the second loss of his 19-fight career.

“We, Russia, have proven that we are number one in the world.

We’ll beat all records,” Makhachev told the press after his victory.

He admitted, however, that securing a victory in the championship rounds is “always hard.” Read more IOC defends Russian Olympic Committee reinstatement after EU threat – Reuters “Ian is a great fighter, good man and I respect him.

He gave me a hard time but I still prove every fight,” the 34-year-old Dagestan-born fighter said.

“I have nothing but respect for Islam… He won.

I have no complaints, no excuses,” Garry said after the decision.