Overview
- Islam Makhachev defended his UFC welterweight title at UFC 330 by unanimous decision after a fight that included a second-round head-kick knockdown, seven takedowns, and more than 12 minutes of control time.
- Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, said the champion could have beaten Ian Machado Garry without using takedowns and would have allowed him to stand if Islam had wanted to.
- Makhachev named Carlos Prates as his preferred next opponent, while Michael Morales has also publicly argued he deserves the next title shot.
- Paddy Pimblett praised Prates as a “future champion,” citing the Brazilian’s heavy knockout record and recent wins over former titleholders.
- The victory extended Makhachev’s long UFC win streak and strengthens his legacy, forcing the promotion to weigh stylistic matchups and promotional value when choosing the next challenger.