Ian Machado Garry will become the first Irish fighter since Conor McGregor to compete for a UFC title when he challenges Islam Makhachev for the welterweight championship at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15.
The 28-year-old Irishman, who is ranked No. 1 in the UFC’s welterweight division, will attempt to hand Makhachev a defeat in the Russian champion’s first title defence. The bout will take place at the XFinity Mobile Arena and marks the biggest fight of the Dubliner’s career.
Machado Garry has long been viewed as a potential UFC champion since joining the promotion in 2021 after capturing the welterweight title in Cage Warriors. He strengthened his title credentials in his most recent outing in November when he defeated former champion Belal Muhammad.
Since signing with the UFC, Machado Garry has won 10 of his 11 appearances inside the Octagon. He secured the title opportunity ahead of second-ranked Carlos Prates and third-ranked Michael Morales, with Prates having lost to the Irishman in April last year and Morales remaining unbeaten through 19 professional fights.
Victory for Machado Garry would see him become Ireland’s first UFC champion since McGregor. Makhachev, meanwhile, is seeking to extend his winning streak and make a successful first defence of the welterweight title he won from Jack Della Maddalena after moving up from lightweight. A victory would also see the 34-year-old surpass Anderson Silva’s UFC record of 16 consecutive wins. Machado Garry’s rise to the top of the division came after a 2024 defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov in a number-one contender bout. However, Rakhmonov has not fought since because of injury issues and was removed from the UFC welterweight rankings in February, elevating Machado Garry into the division’s top position. The co-main event in Philadelphia will see strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern make the first defence of her title against Canada’s Gillian Robertson.
