Makhachev's Next Fight After Historic UFC 330 Win

Islam Makhachev should face Carlos Prates next after breaking the UFC's consecutive win streak with a dominant decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.

Makhachev dropped Garry with a head kick in the second round and controlled the fight with his wrestling to defend his welterweight title. The bout headlined a card that also saw Mackenzie Dern retain her strawweight crown with a lopsided decision over Gillian Robertson in the co-main event.

Prates Emerges As Top Contender

The champion could return before year's end on a numbered card or headline the first event of 2027, per BJPenn.com. Prates has emerged as the clear next challenger after his recent run through the division.

Garry will likely need multiple wins to earn another title shot after struggling to stop Makhachev's takedowns. A fight with the winner of Gabriel Bonfim versus Sean Brady in November makes sense for the Irishman in the first quarter of 2027.

Dern looked sharp on the feet and controlled Robertson on the mat to defend her strawweight title. The Brazilian's next fight should come against former champion Zhang Weili, who is expected to return to strawweight. Robertson will need a couple of victories to work her way back into title contention after the one-sided loss.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — What’s next for the stars of UFC 330?