What's Next for the Stars of UFC 330?

UFC 330, held in Philadelphia, featured two title fights. In the main event, Islam Makhachev successfully defended his welterweight championship against Ian Machado Garry. In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern retained her strawweight title against Gillian Robertson. Makhachev secured his victory by decision, having dropped Garry in the second round and utilizing his wrestling to maintain control. Dern, meanwhile, put on a dominant performance against Robertson, also winning by decision.

Following these exciting title bouts, here are some proposed next steps for the fighters who competed for championships:

Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev demonstrated a commanding performance in the main event, effortlessly defending his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry. Makhachev dropped Garry with a spectacular head kick in the second round and then employed his superior wrestling to dominate the remainder of the fight.

With this victory, Makhachev has now extended the UFC's longest consecutive win streak. He is expected to return later this year. A fitting next opponent for Makhachev would be Carlos Prates, with the fight potentially headlining either the year-end event or the first numbered UFC card of 2027.

Ian Machado Garry

Ian Machado Garry had the opportunity to claim the welterweight title and showed signs of momentum, particularly after a strong third round. However, he ultimately struggled to counter Makhachev's relentless wrestling.

Garry must now regroup and will likely need a few victories to earn another shot at the title. A sensible next step for the Irish fighter would be to face the winner of the upcoming Gabriel Bonfim vs. Sean Brady bout, scheduled for November. This timing would align for a potential fight in the first quarter of 2027.

Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern delivered a dominant display in the co-main event of UFC 330, successfully defending her strawweight title against Gillian Robertson. Dern showcased impressive striking and effectively controlled Robertson on the ground, leading to a decisive victory.

After her win at UFC 330, Dern's next challenge should be a bout against former champion Zhang Weili, who is expected to return to the strawweight division. Many still view Weili as the division's top fighter, making a victory over her crucial for Dern to solidify her claim as the undisputed champion.

Gillian Robertson

Gillian Robertson faced significant challenges in her first title fight, appearing unable to find her rhythm both on the feet and on the ground. The result was a disappointing outcome for Robertson, who will need to re-evaluate her strategy.

Robertson will likely need to secure a couple of wins to work her way back into title contention, especially given the one-sided nature of her recent bout. A logical next opponent for her would be the eighth-ranked Alexia Thainara, who boasts a 4-0 record in the UFC. Thainara warrants a high-ranked opponent, and the winner of such a fight could be just one victory away from a title shot.

What do you think should be next for the stars of UFC 330?