Islam Makhachev edged past Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on Saturday to defend his welterweight title.He has now set a new record for the most UFC fights undefeated, surpassing Anderson Silva’s 16 consecutive wins.Makhachev scored a huge knockdown with a massive head kick in the second round of the UFC 330 main eventGettyBut Garry recovered well and started to land heavily on the feet as time ticked onGettyGarry’s takedown was also elite throughout the five rounds as Makhachev struggled to pin him on the canvas and keep him thereGettyMakhachev put welterweight gold on the line for the first time at the top of the Philadelphia card at Xfinity Mobile Arena, having won the belt with a dominant performance over Jack Della Maddalena last November.The champion dropped Garry with a massive head kick in round two, but the challenger recovered well and began finding success from the third.It was all going to be decided in the championship rounds, with Garry attempting to evade Makhachev’s takedowns and the champion slowing down as time ticked on.Despite struggling to keep Garry pinned on the canvas, Makhachev controlled the Irishman for large portions of the fight, which no doubt gave him the nod on the judges’ scorecards.View Tweet: https://x.com/hashtag/UFC330?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwTwo judges scored the contest 49-46 while a third ruled it 48-47 to hand the champion a unanimous decision win.Makhachev reacts to historic win at UFC 330“Ian is a great fighter,” Makhachev, who is now 29-1 in his professional MMA career and hasn’t lost since October 2015, told Joe Rogan after his win.“A good man. I just respect him. He gave me a hard time, but I still prove every fight.“He has improved a lot and is working with one of the best coaches in Demian Maia.”The 34-year-old, who has also won and defended the UFC lightweight title, continued: “I feel these [welterweights] have more power.“It’s very hard to submit them. But still my game is working.”Makhachev scored his 17th consecutive victory in the UFC to surpass Silva’s longtime recordGettyHe joins a rare group of fighters to win and defend a UFC title in two different divisionsGettyGarry, who failed at his attempt to become the first Irish UFC champion since Conor McGregor and the second overall, added: “Nothing surprised me. I have nothing but respect for Islam.“I believed in my heart and my soul that I was better than him tonight.“He won. I have no excuses. I’m proud of everything I’ve done. I have a decade of domination in this sport.“I can go back, regroup and get better. I am as bulletproof as I’ve ever been mentally.“To all my fans, I’m sorry I couldn’t get this done. But as a man I stand here proud of what I’ve done.”How UFC 330 main event unfoldedMakhachev was a clear fan favourite throughout the entire build-up to UFC 330 as Garry relished playing the villain role for the main event clash.Makhachev failed to submit Garry, but his control time no doubt gave him the edge on the judges’ scorecardsGettyBoth men were full of respect for one another after the final bellGettyAnd the support for the champion was evident as he was met by a raucous Philly crowd when he made his walk to the Octagon.Garry had said in the build-up to UFC 330 that the fight would be defined by whether he could defend Makhachev’s first takedown.And that was the biggest talking point of round one, as the champion shot just one minute in and dragged the Irishman to the canvas.Makhachev was using all his weight to drain the challenger, with Garry on all fours for most of the opening five minutes.Garry, however, defended Makhachev’s attacks well and had made it back to his feet before the bell sounded.Garry was told to start touching Makhachev in the second round, but the Irishman soon found his legs wobbling after a massive head kick from the champion.Garry’s body kicks were ruthless throughout the five-round main eventGettyBut Makhachev did what he needed to do to defend his 170lbs titleGettyThe Russian is well and truly in the conversation as one of the greatest UFC fighters of all timeGettyAfter landing a nice body shot on the champion, both men engaged in the clinch before Garry broke free.Out of nowhere, Makhachev then dropped the head kick bomb that connected squarely on Garry’s jaw.To his credit, the Irishman recovered quickly and well, protecting his head to evade a D’Arce choke attempt before getting to his feet again.Garry had landed just 27 significant strikes a minute into round three and his approach to the fight was surprising, with a lack of movement on the feet.However, the challenger started to build when he reversed a third takedown from Makhachev to escape and start landing again with his kicks.As we entered the championship rounds, Garry’s confidence was clearly growing and there was a sense Makhachev was tiring.UFC 330ResultsMain cardIslam Makhachev def. Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision to retain UFC welterweight titleMackenzie Dern def. Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision to retain UFC women’s strawweight titleJalin Turner def. Kaue Fernandes via first-round KO (punches)Dustin Stoltzfus def. Mansur Abdul-Malik via second-round submission (Rear Naked Choke)Esteban Ribovics def. Edson Barboza via second-round TKO (punches)PrelimsChidi Njokuani def. Joel Alvarez via unanimous decisionCharles Johnson def. Eduardo Chapolin via third-round submission (Scottish Twister)Donte Johnson def. Eric McConico via first-round KO (punch)Tresean Gore def. Vicente Luque via unanimous decisionLucas Fernando def. Rafael Tobias via third-round KO (knee)Neil Magny def. Ramiz Brahimaj via second-round TKO (punches)Jeremiah Wells def. Myktybek Orolbai via third-round submission (Guillotine Choke)Despite Garry’s elite defence when brought to the canvas yet again, Makhachev was able to lift the Irishman with ease and was all over his opponent on the ground with one round to go.It seemed like Makhachev was three rounds to one up before the fifth and final round, with the grappling exchanges deciding the fight.Garry continued to punish Makhachev’s body in the final five minutes, but the champion scored his seventh takedown of the bout before locking in a body triangle to mark the beginning of the end.The challenger put up a great fight, but Makhachev’s control time on the canvas no doubt handed him a deserved points win.