Makhachev Faces Upset Threat At UFC 330

Islam Makhachev defends his welterweight championship against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on Saturday, carrying the weight of a year that has already seen three pound-for-pound elite fighters lose their belts.

MMA Fighting's panel rated a potential Garry upset between 6.5 and 9 out of 10. Alexander K. Lee gave it a solid 9, noting that Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira, and Khamzat Chimaev all suffered losses earlier this year after occupying the top four pound-for-pound spots alongside Makhachev in February. Mike Heck rated it lower at 6.5, arguing that Garry represents the most difficult stylistic challenge Makhachev has faced. Damon Martin settled on 8, pointing to Garry's lack of finishing power as the main reason the upset would still shock.

Garry's Path To Gold Runs Through Sambo Specialist

The Irish welterweight earned his shot by beating former champion Belal Muhammad in November and holds a 10-1 UFC record. Garry's recent wins have come by decision rather than finish, which Martin suggested could spell trouble against Makhachev's elite grappling and submission game. Heck questioned whether Makhachev's lightweight resume contained any victories as difficult as Garry would be from a pure skill perspective, discounting names that failed to make fight night.

Makhachev moved up to welterweight after his lightweight reign and brings second-to-none grappling skills into the title defense. Lee described Garry as having size, skill, and being difficult to fight in the most complimentary way possible. Martin noted that if Makhachev feels no danger shooting inside or clinching, the fight will likely end in his world with a finish.

The co-main event features strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern defending against Gillian Robertson. All three panelists agreed Zhang Weili's shadow looms over the division until the former champion declares her intentions at 115 pounds. Dern captured the vacant belt after Zhang moved to flyweight, but Martin wrote that Zhang immediately becomes the uncrowned champion the moment she announces her return to strawweight.

UFC 330 takes place Saturday in Philadelphia with both champions favored to retain their titles.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — UFC 330 roundtable: Is Islam Makhachev the next pound-for-pound great to fall? | MMA Fighting