Islam Makhachev is still the welterweight champion, but Ian Machado Garry made him look vulnerable enough to invigorate hungry contenders. Mackenzie Dern kept her strawweight title, but did little to quiet questions about her place atop the division. Makhachev pulled through with his title after a difficult fight with Garry.
The Irishman's defense and kicks gave one of MMA's most dominant champions fits, and suddenly the next generation of welterweight contenders look more dangerous. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales were both shown Octagon-side for a reason. Dern's future is less complicated.
Her first title defense showed real improvements, particularly on the feet. However, Gillian Robertson's late success took the shine off what started as a strong performance. Zhang Weili remains the measuring stick at strawweight, and until Dern gets the chance to face her, some will doubt Dern's claim to the throne.
In the aftermath of UFC 330, let's take a look at the best fights to make for Saturday's main and co-main event athletes. Carlos Prates: Makhachev barely held onto his welterweight title. Garry's defense might be the best in the division, but their fight raises compelling questions about how Makhachev will handle welterweights with more consequential power.
Prates and Morales were both shown on the broadcast after the fight. There's good reason for it. They're neck-and-neck in the rankings.
But one man deserves the title shot more, and it's not the one who weighed in as Saturday's backup. Prates' resume is simply more impressive. He brutally knocked out former champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards, handing Edwards his first KO loss.
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