There are very few boxes the two-division champion hasn't checked off. Against Ian Machado Garry, a sneaky threat to his welterweight title, Makhachev aims to break through into the G.O.A.T. conversation at UFC 330. Last year, Makhachev separated himself from his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov.
He achieved it by breaking the UFC lightweight title defense record and subsequently winning a second weight class title. On Saturday, Makhachev can break the record for the longest UFC undefeated streak, one he shares with Anderson Silva. "If [Makhachev] wins on Saturday -- especially if he wins spectacularly -- you can't exclude him from the [Mount Rushmore] conversation," Javier Mendez, Makhachev and Nurmagomedov's longtime coach, told CBS Sports.
His opponent deserves enough respect to hold off on early celebrations. Garry is a cerebral fighter. His commitment to a game plan and sound defense has led to an impressive 17-1 record.
With former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira as a training partner, Garry has unique insight into what it's like fighting Makhachev. red event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year! "I think it's a case of: how can he get close to me?" Garry told CBS Sports' Brian Campbell.
"You can't grab something that you can't touch. You can't wrestle me if you can't catch me and hold me down. He has to get there in the first place." UFC 330's main event isn't the only title fight on the card.
UFC women's strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern makes her first title defense against Gillian Robertson. It's been nearly a decade since Canada has had a UFC champion. Numerous fighters adorned in red and white have come close, but none have joined Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Newton on the snow-capped mountaintop.
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