Islam Makhachev notches 17th consecutive victory at UFC 330 - ESPN

Islam Makhachev further cemented himself as one of the greatest fighters ever at UFC 330 on Saturday, as he surpassed middleweight legend Anderson Silva's all-time record of 16 consecutive UFC wins.

Makhachev (29-1) extended his win streak to 17 with a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry (17-2) inside Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The five-round bout was competitive throughout, but Makhachev's tenacious wrestling and a stunning head kick knockdown in the second round proved to be the difference. All three judges scored the 170-pound contest in his favor, via scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

«Ian is a great fighter, a good man, and I respect him,» Makhachev said. «He gave me a hard time, but I still prove it every fight.»

Makhachev's record-setting win streak began in September 2016, and has witnessed the Dagestani claim the UFC's lightweight and welterweight championships. Silva's record of 16 consecutive wins stood for more than 13 years. The longtime 185-pound champion's 16-fight streak ran from June 2006 to October 2012.

Makhachev, 34, who is a longtime teammate of retired lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, was favored going into Saturday's matchup, but many pundits believed Garry presented a very unique challenge. A longtime lightweight, Makhachev moved up a weight class last November to seek his second UFC championship. Although he's widely recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, his abilities at welterweight are still somewhat unproven.

Garry, of Ireland, boasted a size and height advantage over Makhachev, and frequently used both in the losing effort. According to UFC Stats, he surrendered seven takedowns to Makhachev, but did well working his way to the fence and getting