Islam Makhachev will defend his UFC Welterweight Championship for the first time when he takes on Ian Machado Garry inside the Octagon at UFC 330.

The pair will headline the bill this coming weekend from Philadelphia, with the card scheduled to get underway at 07:30 AEST on Sunday, August 16. We also have an entire guide on how to watch UFC 330 in Australia with all the details you need to follow it live.

Quick Picks

Our pick: Makhachev to win

Value bet: Makhachev to win by decision

Long shot: Makhachev by submission

Tale of the Tape

It is Makhachev’s first welterweight title defence after taking the belt from Jack Della Maddalena, while Garry arrives off wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates after his close loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov.

And fight fans can expect a clash of styles here, with both men having contrasting stances. It’s also worth noting that there are physical differences between both, which could have an impact on the fight.

Garry is five inches taller and has four inches more reach, but that doesn’t mean he’s a definite here. The grappling numbers are dramatically in Makhachev’s favour.

So, how do the two compare? Take a look below, with Makhachev’s figures featuring first…

• Age - 34 vs 28
• Height - 5'10" (178cm) vs 6'3" (191cm)
• Stance - Southpaw vs Orthodox
• Record - 28-1-0 vs 17-1-0
• KO Record - 5 vs 7

Betting Preview

How have they performed in their last five fights?

Makhachev's last five fights:

• Jack Della Maddalena - Win (UD, 5) - Nov 2025
• Renato Moicano - Win (Sub, 1) - Jan 2025
• Dustin Poirier - Win (Sub, 5) - Jun 2024
• Alexander Volkanovski - Win (TKO, 1) - Oct 2023
• Alexander Volkanovski - Win (UD, 5) - Feb 2023

Garry’s last five fights:

• Belal Muhammad - Win (UD, 3) - Nov 2025
• Carlos Prates - Win (UD, 5) - Apr 2025
• Shavkat Rakhmonov - Loss (UD, 5) - Dec 2024
• Michael Page - Win (UD, 3) - Jun 2024
• Geoff Neal - Win (SD, 3) - Feb 2024

Betting Markets to Watch

The betting odds have Makhachev as the early favourite to win the fight, having won his last 16 in a row.

The control that he can execute during the fight will make him the likely favourite, as he can exert himself and aim to dominate the Octagon. 

He possesses elite offensive wrestling and control grappling, which makes him more favourable against Garry, who likes open spaces.

The fight to go the distance is arguably the value bet in this fight.

Garry is tall, intelligent, and disciplined enough to make clean finishing opportunities scarce, but Makhachev has more reliable ways to bank rounds, using pressure, clinch control, takedowns, mat returns, and top time.

It’s worth pointing out too that each of Garry's last six UFC fights has gone the distance.

Our Prediction

Check the latest Makhachev vs Garry betting odds at Sportsbet.

Our UFC predictions have Makhachev as the likely winner, with the decision market offering value.

Our long shot is the ‘ Makhachev by submission - Method of Victory ’ market. If he lands takedowns from rounds two onward and controls position, he could find a late submission as Garry’s reactions slow down.