Kathmandu— Islam Makhachev of Russia secured a unanimous decision victory over Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on Saturday, establishing a new UFC record with his 17th straight win. The welterweight title defense took place at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia and saw Makhachev control the fight through wrestling and ground game despite Garry landing more strikes overall. The victory elevates Makhachev’s career record to 29 wins and one loss, while handing Garry only his second defeat.

Makhachev's Ground Game Proves Decisive

The five-round bout saw Makhachev consistently utilize wrestling techniques, securing six takedowns and delivering 72 ground strikes compared to Garry’s 14. Despite Garry landing a higher number of total strikes (161 to Makhachev’s 144), the Russian fighter maintained over 12 minutes of control time, significantly outperforming Garry's 34 seconds. A damaging head kick in the second round was officially recorded as a knockdown, further solidifying Makhachev’s dominance.

A Shared Record Broken

Makhachev entered the fight tied with Brazilian legend Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history at 16 fights. His victory over Garry surpasses that record and establishes him as the sole holder of the longest consecutive win streak within the organization. Garry himself was on a 16-fight winning streak, remaining unbeaten for nearly a decade prior to Saturday’s match.

Russian Athletes Continue Competing Amidst Global Restrictions

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, many sports federations imposed bans on Russian and Belarusian athletes. However, major MMA promotions like UFC, Bellator, and One FC have continued to allow Russian fighters to compete. UFC president Dana White stated last year that the organization would continue operating as usual despite political tensions, emphasizing its status as a global business. While UFC events are no longer held in Russia due to logistical challenges related to sanctions, there have been previous discussions about potentially returning.

Makhachev expressed pride in representing Russia and vowed to break further records, while Garry graciously accepted the defeat and congratulated his opponent. The victory solidifies Makhachev’s position as a dominant force in the UFC welterweight division.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.