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Islam Makhachev Makes History: Is The UFC’s New Record Holder Now The GOAT?

Islam Makhachev Record

Islam Makhachev arrived at UFC 330 with history within touching distance. Five rounds later, the record books belonged to him.

ALSO READ: Islam Makhachev Is One Win Away From Becoming The UFC GOAT.

The pound-for-pound king successfully defended his UFC welterweight championship for the first time with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday night. All three judges scored the fight for Makhachev, 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47, as the Russian extended one of the most extraordinary runs the UFC has ever witnessed.

Most importantly, it was Makhachev’s 17th consecutive UFC victory, moving him clear of Anderson Silva’s legendary run of 16 to establish a new all-time promotional record. Makhachev is now 29-1 professionally, has won championships in two divisions and has successfully defended UFC gold at both lightweight and welterweight.

The victory wasn’t his most spectacular. Garry pushed him harder than most expected and demonstrated that the champion may not be quite as untouchable at 170 pounds as he was at lightweight.

But when assessing greatness, sometimes the number beside the result matters more than the manner in which it arrived.

Seventeen.

Nobody in UFC history has ever won more consecutive fights.

So, after another record-breaking night, the question surrounding Makhachev has changed. It is no longer whether he belongs among the greatest fighters of all time.

It’s how high should he rank?

Makhachev Survives His Toughest Test In Years

This wasn’t the one-sided dismantling many have come to expect from Makhachev.

Garry’s length, movement and vastly improved takedown defence presented genuine problems. The Irishman grew into the contest after getting dropped by a beautiful head kick in the second round. Garry found success with his striking and kicks while increasingly frustrating Makhachev’s attempts to impose the suffocating grappling game that has overwhelmed so many previous opponents.

Makhachev still found a way.

The champion’s pressure, wrestling and control proved decisive across five competitive rounds. Even when Garry denied takedowns and created uncomfortable moments on the feet, Makhachev remained composed and continued accumulating the work required to stay ahead on the scorecards.

Garry arguably produced some of his best work in the middle rounds and emerged from the defeat with his reputation enhanced. UFC president Dana White was particularly frustrated that the challenger didn’t push harder in the fifth round when he still had an opportunity to turn the fight around.

For Makhachev, however, this was never going to be judged purely on entertainment value.

He had a belt to defend and a record to break.

He did both.

17 Straight: Anderson Silva’s Record Finally Falls

For more than a decade, Anderson Silva’s 16-fight winning streak represented one of the UFC’s seemingly untouchable records.

“The Spider” went unbeaten inside the Octagon from 2006 until Chris Weidman finally dethroned him in 2013. His run included one of the greatest championship reigns the sport has ever seen and victories over the likes of Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen.

Makhachev equalled Silva’s mark when he moved up to welterweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025. That victory made him a two-division champion and extended his streak to 16.

Garry therefore represented the final obstacle between Makhachev and outright ownership of the record.

He cleared it.

Islam Makhachev – 17 consecutive UFC wins
Anderson Silva – 16
Kamaru Usman – 15
Merab Dvalishvili = 14
Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, Max Holloway and Khabib Nurmagomedov – 13

The names underneath him illustrate the magnitude of what Makhachev has accomplished.

These aren’t simply great fighters.

It’s a significant portion of the UFC’s GOAT shortlist.

And Makhachev now stands alone above them in consecutive victories.

From Lightweight King To Welterweight Champion

The win-streak record isn’t the only reason UFC 330 significantly strengthens Makhachev’s legacy. He has now successfully defended championships in two different UFC weight divisions.

Makhachev’s reign at lightweight was historic in its own right. After submitting Charles Oliveira to capture the vacant championship at UFC 280 in 2022, he successfully defended the belt four times, defeating Alexander Volkanovski twice, Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano.

Those four consecutive defences established a new UFC lightweight record, while his five victories in lightweight championship fights are also the most in divisional history.

Instead of remaining at 155 pounds and continuing to add defences, Makhachev vacated the title and pursued something greater.

He moved to welterweight.

At UFC 322, Makhachev dominated Della Maddalena over five rounds to capture the 170-pound championship, becoming the UFC’s 11th fighter to win undisputed titles in two different divisions.

UFC 330 completed the next part of that mission.

Winning a second championship is one achievement. Successfully defending it proves you can establish yourself as the best fighter in the new division rather than simply producing one great performance on one night.

Makhachev has now defended championships at lightweight and welterweight, putting him in an even more exclusive historical category.

The Resume Is Becoming Ridiculous

Look beyond the records and Makhachev’s list of victims increasingly resembles a Hall of Fame roll call.

There’s Charles Oliveira, whom he submitted to become lightweight champion.

There’s Alexander Volkanovski, the then-pound-for-pound king whom Makhachev defeated twice, including a devastating first-round knockout in their rematch.

There’s Dustin Poirier, whom he submitted in the fifth round.

There’s Arman Tsarukyan, who became a championship-calibre lightweight after losing to Makhachev in his UFC debut.

There’s Jack Della Maddalena, whom he defeated to become a two-weight world champion.

And now there’s Ian Machado Garry, one of the leading welterweights of his generation, beaten while Makhachev was defending his second UFC championship.

His overall professional record now stands at 29-1, with his only defeat coming more than 11 years ago against Adriano Martins in October 2015.

That’s the remarkable part.

Makhachev hasn’t simply been dominant for three or four years; he has effectively been unbeatable for more than a decade.

Where Does Makhachev Rank Among The UFC GOATs?

There is no objective formula for determining the greatest fighter in MMA history. Longevity, championship wins, quality of opposition, dominance, records and multi-divisional success all carry different weight depending on who is making the argument.

But after UFC 330, Makhachev belongs in the very highest tier.

A reasonable UFC all-time discussion now has to include Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Demetrious Johnson, Anderson Silva and Islam Makhachev. Amanda Nunes also has an enormous claim when considering MMA as a whole, having dominated two divisions and established herself as the greatest female fighter the sport has seen.

Where Makhachev fits within that group remains debatable.

If championship longevity is your primary criterion, Jones, St-Pierre and Johnson still have an advantage.

If dominance and perfection matter most, Khabib’s undefeated record will always carry enormous weight.

But if you value a combination of winning streak, two-division success, quality of opposition, longevity and championship achievements, Makhachev’s case is becoming exceptionally difficult to beat.

Even the UFC itself framed UFC 330 around the possibility of Makhachev strengthening his GOAT credentials, while post-fight analysis has increasingly placed him firmly within that conversation.

Our assessment?

Makhachev is already comfortably among the five greatest UFC fighters ever.

Whether he’s No. 1 is still open to debate.

What Could Make Him The Undisputed GOAT?

The frightening thing is that Makhachev isn’t finished.

At 34, he doesn’t have unlimited time, but there are still significant challenges available at welterweight. Carlos Prates and unbeaten Michael Morales are among the leading contenders being discussed as potential opponents for his next defence. Makhachev himself indicated after UFC 330 that Prates may currently have the stronger claim.

Two or three more successful welterweight title defences could fundamentally change the GOAT discussion.

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