Islam Makhachev has the chance to further boost his legacy on MMA’s biggest stage this August.
Last time out, the 34-year-old became the eleventh fighter to win UFC titles across two divisions by adding the welterweight championship to his résumé.
Nine months later, Makhachev will face Ian Machado Garry in his first defense of the crown at 170 pounds, as they headline the UFC 330 event in Philadelphia.
The Irishman is confident of upsetting the odds at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, but Cain Velasquez is expecting more Dagestani domination.
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Cain Velasquez talks up ‘special athlete’ Islam Makhachev ahead of his UFC 330 title defense
Velasquez, who is regarded by many as the skill-for-skill best heavyweight in UFC history, trained at the American Kickboxing Academy during his career as an active fighter.
At the San Jose facility, Velasquez worked with the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Luke Rockhold, and Daniel Cormier, and his time there also crossed over with Makhachev’s.
During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA in Miami, where Velasquez attended IBA Bare Knuckle 6 alongside Jon Jones, the former two-time heavyweight champion discussed Makhachev’s successes and future.
“He’s a special type of athlete, as we all know,” Velasquez said.
“He’s one of those guys at the pinnacle of the sport. I talk to Javier (Mendez) all the time, and Islam and those guys are always doing great. They’re in great hands.
“I see Islam just continuing to do what he’s been doing, and that’s winning impressively,” he continued. “He’s somebody who has mastered all aspects of MMA.”
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Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Garry will look to avoid the kind of fate that befell Jack Della Maddalena when Makhachev moved up to make his welterweight debut last November.
After a lengthy reign at lightweight, the Dagestani dominated the Australian with his wrestling for five rounds at Madison Square Garden.
2026-07-20 01:00:00
