Russian fighter Islam Makhachev set a historic UFC record by defeating Ireland's Ian Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, securing his 17th consecutive victory in the promotion.
Makhachev, 34, won the bout by unanimous decision with scorecards reading 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. The victory marked the first successful defence of his UFC welterweight championship title, having previously defended the organisation's lightweight belt four times.
By earning his 17th straight win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Makhachev surpassed the record previously held by Brazilian fighter Anderson Silva. The win was also Makhachev's seventh consecutive title fight victory, bringing his professional mixed martial arts record to 29 wins and a single defeat.
Historic victory in Philadelphia
The main event fight at UFC 330 saw Makhachev control the contest across five rounds against his younger opponent. Prior to moving up to welterweight, the Russian established his dominance in the lightweight division, where he built much of his historic winning streak.
Silva had long held the promotion's record for consecutive victories, established during his dominant reign as middleweight champion. Makhachev's win in Philadelphia now places him at the top of the UFC record books for consecutive Octagon victories.
For the 28-year-old Garry, the loss was only the second defeat of his professional mixed martial arts career. The Irish fighter now stands at 17 wins and two losses overall.
Post fight reactions
Speaking after the contest, Garry acknowledged the result, saying it was not his night but that he still felt great about his performance. He noted that while he delivered a strong performance, Makhachev was simply the better fighter in the cage.
Garry added that he plans to return to competition soon. He emphasised that at just 28 years old he had already tested himself against the top fighter in the UFC, noting that he gave his opponent a tough test throughout the fight.
