Islam Makhachev was able to beat Ian Machado Garry on the scorecards tonight at UFC 330, but had to dig deep into his energy reserves to do so.

Round One

The welterweight title fight main event is underway in Philadelphia!

Inside leg kick from Makhachev. He lands it again and then avoids a couple of punches coming back at him.

Makhachev with a head kick attempt that’s blocked. Quickly afterwards he shoots in for a takedown. Garry trying to defend against it, but Makhachev gets him down for his first takedown of the night.

Garry able to scoot over to the cage on one knee. Makhachev leaning heavily on him though and landing repeated knees to his thigh.

Garry gradually manages to straighten up, but Makhachev is still clinched up tightly and continues to wear on him.

Knees to the back of Garry’s thigh now from Makhachev. Garry trying to land elbows to break the body lock. Makhachev traps a leg late in the round, but just continues to focus on control from the clinch.

Round Two

Head kick attempt from Garry. Inside leg kick from Makhachev. Garry trying for the high kick again. Low kick from Makhachev.

Makhachev just misses on an uppercut attempt. Another inside leg kick for Makhachev. Garry presses forward with a solid body kick.

Jab for Garry. Makhachev misses a punch. Garry comes forward and Makhachev clinches up and lands a knee to the body. Garry works Makhachev over to the cage from this clinch position.

They break away and Makhachev throws a couple of punches to disguise a big head kick that puts Garry down for a moment! He gets up quickly though.

Makhachev with a slick takedown to get Garry down and land in side control.

Garry gets the champ back to half-guard. Garry gets to his knees in the center of the Octagon. He starts to go upright, but Makhachev shows his strength and control to keep a hold of him in the final seconds of the round.

Round Three

Garry feels out with punches and a head kick attempt that’s blocked.

Oblique kick to the knee from Garry. Left hand for Makhachev. Bit of a lull in the action and then Garry tries again to sneak in a head kick attempt.

Another oblique kick for Garry. Makhachev suddenly times a single-leg and gets Garry down close to the cage. Garry able to get free though and return to his feet.

Front kick to the body from Garry. Now a body kick. Body punch from Makhachev. Missed front kick from Garry.

Head kick from Garry almost blasted through the guard of Makhachev. Makhachev not really getting anything going striking wise here. Oblique kick from Garry. Makhachev tries for a takedown but fails.

Solid body kick for Garry. Inside leg kick for him. Spinning backfist attempt from Garry. Now a high kick attempt again. Better round for Garry as the momentum starts to shift.

Round Four

Jab lands for Makhachev. Oblique kick from Garry. Body kick for Garry. Makhachev with a light inside leg kick.

Glancing right hook from Makhachev. Makhachev ducks a punch and then shoots in for a takedown. Garry defending well, but Makhachev adjusts to re-gain control. Garry trying to stand up against the cage and is able to. Makhachev still has the body lock though.

Makhachev back to landing a few knee strikes to the leg. Body punch from Garry and then an elbow.

Makhachev working for a single-leg and works the high-crotch to get a takedown. Garry quickly back up but still trapped in Makhachev’s body lock.

Short punches inside from Garry. Makhachev brings him back down, but Garry is well positioned to stand straight back up. Makhachev’s clinch-work is relentless though. Garry still trying to land short strikes though and Makhachev is a little bloodied.

Round Five

The two fighters have a brief conversation as the round starts and Makhachev looks the more fatigued of the two.

Body kick for Garry. Grazing right hand from Makhachev. Solid right hand from Garry. He tries for a head kick that’s blocked.

Garry gets the right hand through again. Body kick for Garry. Makhachev hesitant on the feet, but times his moment to land a takedown. Garry gets up swiftly and we’re back to the same scenario as he’s now trapped in Makhachev’s body lock against the cage.

Now Makhachev lands a more decisive takedown and takes the back. Approaching two minutes left and Makhachev is trying to work towards a choke.

Makhachev gets the body triangle in. Patient work from Makhachev. He lands a few punches. Garry trying to punch behind himself.

Final 30 seconds and Garry is wall-walking but unable to improve his position. Makhachev with some punches now.

Decision

There’s no doubts Makhachev won here, but he did have to dig deep in the end to secure a decision victory. The champ was able to control large portions of this fight with clinch-work and takedowns, while he also knocked Garry down briefly with a head kick. However, Garry was good defensively and his size and conditioning did wear on Makhachev over time, leading to a closer third and fourth round, before Makhachev regained some control in the final round to seal his unanimous decision victory (49-46 x2, 48-47).

With this successful title defense Makhachev now holds the record for the longest winning streak in UFC history (17 fights).