Overview
- The UFC officially confirmed a 10-fight UFC 330 card headlined by Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry on August 15 at Philadelphia's Xfinity Mobile Arena.
- Makhachev makes his first welterweight title defense and enters on a 16-fight UFC winning streak tied with Anderson Silva, with a victory on Aug. 15 putting him one win clear of that mark.
- Russian authorities and the International Sambo Federation recently awarded Makhachev the 'Honored Master of Sport of Russia' title in Sambo, underscoring his grappling pedigree.
- Garry has been loudly promotional, signing with Matchroom, predicting a late stoppage, citing recent upsets as inspiration, and linking a win to bringing the UFC back to Ireland.
- Experts and bettors favor Makhachev because his wrestling can dictate where the fight takes place while voices such as Daniel Cormier warn Garry that pre-fight predictions could backfire and that stopping takedowns is Garry's clearest path to an upset.