After dominating Jack Della Maddalena to become a two-division UFC champion last November, Islam Makhachev returns this weekend for the first defence of his welterweight crown at UFC 330. Waiting for him inside Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena is No. 1 contender Ian Machado Garry, a rangy 17-1 kickboxer receiving his first opportunity to claim UFC gold.
Can Makhachev extend his 16-fight winning streak and successfully defend a second UFC title? Or will Garry use his size, movement, and sharp striking to hand the pound-for-pound king his first defeat in more than a decade?
Join me as I break down Makhachev vs Garry and give you my top picks for this main event alongside the best UFC 330 odds at ibet.
- Makhachev vs. Garry Best Bet 1: Makhachev wins by sub or decision at 1.44 [-227] at ibet.
- Makhachev vs. Garry Best Bet 2: Winner by Decision at 1.64 [-156] at ibet.
- Find the best UFC odds at ibet sportsbook!
UFC 330 Main Event
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Makhachev vs. Garry UFC 330: Tale of the Tape
| Islam Makhachev | Ian Garry | |
| Country | Russia | Ireland |
| Age | 34 | 28 |
| Pro Record (Win/Loss) | 28-1-0 | 17-1-0 |
| KO/Submission | 5 KOs, 13 Submissions | 7 KOs, 1 Submissions |
| Height | 5’10” | 6’3” |
| Reach | 70.5” | 74.5” |
| Win/Loss (Last 5) | W/W/W/W/W | W/W/L/W/W |
| Moneyline Price | +120 @ | -115 @ |
Inside the Octagon UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Garry Prediction & Analysis
The Pound-for-Pound King Is Back
Eleven years, 18 fights, 17 wins, 11 stoppage victories, and two championship titles. That’s the accomplishments that have taken the formidable Islam Makhachev into legendary status, as the Dagestan wrestling savant now sits comfortably as the pound-for-pound No.1 ranked fighter on the planet ahead of his welterweight run following absolute domination at 155lbs.
When Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena to win the 170lb title last November, he didn’t just become a two-division champion. He extended his consecutive win streak to 16, putting him one win away from the all-time record. Yes, he’s already in the GOAT conversation. Still, a successful title defense in the welterweight division this weekend might make the argument for fellow greats being the greatest ever more difficult.
Superior wrestling, top control, and smothering pressure have led the two-division champ to this point. He’s fought all possible styles imaginable during his UFC tenure, mostly at lightweight, but now he must solve the long, rangy problem of an elite kickboxer in Ian Garry.
Naturally, Makhachev is the heavy betting favourite. The question is, will that number live up to the hype? Or does this Saturday’s underdog actually have a shot at doing the unthinkable by crushing the champ’s unreal winning streak?
A UFC Underdog With a 17-1 Record
You’ll rarely see a 17-1 record enter a UFC bout as the betting underdog. But here we are; Ireland’s Ian Garry is faced with the No.1 fighter on the planet, amongst all weight classes. It really is a tall task for Garry, whose lone UFC loss (to Shavkat Rakhmonov) exposed a weakness in his ground game.
For the most part, Garry hasn’t fought elite grapplers during his career, aside from that aforementioned Shavkat loss and a successful outing against Belal Muhammad. What we can take from this, however, is that no matter what, an elusive at-distance style of striking inside a big cage might be the best advantage the Irishman will have.
Garry is a points fighter. Pick and move is the M.O., and he’s been incredibly successful with it throughout his career. He’s eluded the insane KO power of Carlos Prates, outwitted the slick footwork of Michael Venom Page, and forced Belal into a striking affair to dominate a decision across three rounds.
Will these skills be enough to defeat the best in the business?
Makhachev vs. Garry UFC 330 Betting Picks
Makhachev to Win by Submission or Decision
Watching Garry avoid the clinch and manage distance versus Belal was impressive. However, we cannot compare the wrestling of a slow 38-year-old, double-leg takedown merchant to Makhachev’s fight IQ and relentless pressure.
Garry cannot afford to sit back and counter-strike in this fight, but the opposite will force him to pressure more often. As a result, whenever that distance is closed, Makhachev will take the opportunity to ground this fight, and I really don’t envision Garry getting back to his feet. And sure, he’s fought through grounded moments before, but the top control of the champ is something else, and something I don’t believe the underdog can overcome.
In a 25-minute fight, Makhachev has the cardio, pressure, and unbreakable will to defeat any fighter at 170 or below on the planet. Not to mention, he’s no stranger to outclassing elite strikers; just ask Volkanovski, JDM, Poirier, and many more who came before Garry.
Sooner or later, Makhachev will get the takedown and assert control. Will he get the submission? I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised. For that reason, we’re backing the champ to win by submission or decision.
Makhachev by Submission or Decision 1.44 [-227]
Winner by Decision
No matter who walks out of Philadelphia as the welterweight champion, there’s a strong case that the judges’ scorecards will be required.
For starters, Makhachev’s welterweight run may not involve as many finishes as his 155lb dominance because he isn’t holding the same size/power advantage as before. Then, we have Garry, who, for the majority of his UFC tenure, has relied on technically outclassing his opponents on the feet, combined with a lot of evasive defense, rather than using power shots and putting himself in danger.
Backing this fight to be won by decision, by either fighter, feels just. With the odds also giving us greater value than ‘fight goes the distance,’ it’s a no-brainer alternative to the totals.
Makhachev Winner by Decision 1.64 [-156]
UFC 330 Event Information
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 11:30 p.m. CET
- Location: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia
- How to Watch: UFC Fight Pass, Paramount+ & Viaplay
- Main Event Bout: Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry
- Co-Main Event Bout: Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson
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