Islam Makhachev’s Top 5 UFC Wins Ahead Of UFC 330

Islam Makhachev stands on the brink of UFC history. The reigning welterweight champion makes his first title defence against Ian Machado Garry in the main event of UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Saturday, with more than just the belt at stake. Victory would give Makhachev a record-breaking 17th consecutive UFC win, moving him beyond Anderson Silva’s legendary streak of 16.

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

It would also add another major achievement to a résumé that already includes championships in two weight classes, four successful lightweight title defences and victories over some of the finest fighters of his generation.

Ahead of what could be another legacy-defining night, we rank the five greatest victories of Makhachev’s remarkable UFC career.

Bet on UFC 330 as the pound-for-pound king bids to make UFC history in Philadelphia.

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5. Dustin Poirier – UFC 302

Result: Makhachev won by fifth-round submission

Dustin Poirier made Makhachev work for this one.

By the time they met at UFC 302 in June 2024, Makhachev had started to look almost untouchable. Poirier, however, dragged the champion into one of the toughest and most gruelling battles of his title reign.

Makhachev dominated much of the opening round on the ground, but Poirier refused to disappear. The American’s takedown defence improved as the fight progressed, and he forced Makhachev into an increasingly physical contest.

It ultimately took until the fifth round for the champion to find the finish.

Makhachev attacked a leg before transitioning beautifully into a D’Arce choke, forcing Poirier to tap with just over two minutes remaining.

It wasn’t his easiest championship victory, and that’s precisely why it belongs on this list.

Makhachev showed that when an opponent survives his initial dominance and forces him into deep waters, he can still find a way to finish the fight.

4. Alexander Volkanovski – UFC 294

Result: Makhachev won by first-round knockout

There was controversy surrounding the circumstances, but absolutely none surrounding the finish.

Alexander Volkanovski stepped in on short notice for a rematch with Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira withdrew. Eight months earlier, the featherweight champion had pushed Makhachev through five competitive rounds in Australia.

This time, there would be no debate.

Just over three minutes into the opening round, Makhachev landed a devastating left high kick that dropped Volkanovski before finishing the fight with punches on the ground.

The knockout was particularly significant because of the questions raised after their first encounter.

Volkanovski had proven he could compete with Makhachev’s wrestling and grappling. Makhachev responded in the rematch by showing another dimension entirely.

One kick. Fight over.

3. Alexander Volkanovski – UFC 284

Result: Makhachev won by unanimous decision

The first Volkanovski fight ranks higher because of the challenge Makhachev had to overcome.

Volkanovski entered UFC 284 as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 and dominant featherweight champion. Fighting in front of his home crowd in Australia, he moved up to lightweight attempting to become a two-division champion.

What followed was arguably the toughest test of Makhachev’s UFC career.

Volkanovski’s speed, scrambling ability, takedown defence and conditioning created problems that few previous opponents had been able to pose. He even finished the fifth round strongly, putting Makhachev under pressure as the Perth crowd erupted.

But after five rounds, Makhachev had done enough to retain his lightweight championship via unanimous decision.

The fight proved something important.

Makhachev could dominate opponents, but he could also beat an all-time great when everything wasn’t going his way.

2. Jack Della Maddalena – UFC 322

Result: Makhachev won by unanimous decision

Moving up a weight class is one thing.

Moving up and immediately dominating the champion is another.

Makhachev vacated his lightweight championship in May 2025 before moving to welterweight and challenging Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November.

Della Maddalena entered as the reigning champion and presented a fascinating stylistic problem. The Australian was a natural welterweight with elite boxing and had established himself at the top of the 170-pound division.

It didn’t matter.

Makhachev produced a remarkably controlled performance across all five rounds, winning a unanimous decision to become UFC welterweight champion.

The victory made him a two-division UFC champion and simultaneously extended his winning streak to 16, drawing him level with Anderson Silva’s long-standing UFC record.

More importantly, it proved that Makhachev’s dominance wasn’t restricted to lightweight. He moved up 15 pounds and conquered another division at the first attempt.

Now, against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, he’ll attempt to defend that second championship for the first time.

1. Charles Oliveira – UFC 280

Result: Makhachev won by second-round submission

This remains the defining performance of Islam Makhachev’s career.

It’s easy to forget just how dangerous Charles Oliveira looked heading into UFC 280.

The Brazilian had ripped through the lightweight elite and established himself as one of the most destructive finishers in UFC history. His championship run had seen him overcome Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

Oliveira’s combination of fearless striking and elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu was supposed to give Makhachev his ultimate test.

Instead, Makhachev dismantled him.

He controlled Oliveira on the ground in the opening round before dropping him with a punch in the second. Rather than avoiding the submission specialist’s guard, Makhachev followed him to the canvas and secured an arm-triangle choke.

Oliveira tapped at 3:16 of the second round.

Makhachev was finally UFC lightweight champion. It wasn’t simply that he beat Oliveira. It was how comprehensively he did it.

He outstruck a dangerous striker, outgrappled one of the greatest submission artists in UFC history and finished him inside two rounds.

That night in Abu Dhabi marked the moment Makhachev went from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s highly touted successor to a champion building a legacy of his own.