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Islam Makhachev is in rare air. Part of that, of course, is his resume. He boasts the records for the most title-fight wins (five) and title defenses (four) in the history of the lightweight division. His four finishes in those championship titles puts him joint-top alongside B.J. Penn. He is the 11th multi-division champion in UFC history after sweeping Jack Della Maddalena on the scorecards last November, and he has spent the better part of the last three years on top of the pound-for-pound rankings with few real challengers to his claim. He has more history at stake when he faces Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. Makhachev can surpass Anderson Silva’s record for the longest winning streak in history and also become the fifth fighter to defend a title in multiple weightclasses. Where to Watch: Paramount+ | How To Watch UFC 330 In Your Country Nobody questions his work ethic. You don’t get those kinds of results without putting in the time and effort, but Makhachev is also someone who enjoys spending time with his teammates, friends, and family outside of the gym doing things like fishing. “All my life, it (doesn’t) have to be about MMA,” Makhachev said. “Just have to enjoy every day of my life, and if I am focusing just in MMA and all my trips are about some of the guys fighting (and) some of the training camp, it's not life. I want to enjoy every day of my life. That's why when I have some free time, I just do something else, and everybody knows what I like.” Unlock MORE of your inner combat sports fan with UFC Fight Pass! Fighting is what we live for. And no one brings you MORE live fights, new shows, and events across multiple combat sports from around the world. With a never-ending supply of fighting in every discipline, there`s always something new to watch. Leave it to the world`s authority in MMA to bring you the Ultimate 24/7 platform for MORE combat sports, UFC Fight Pass! Upgrade licence This video is not available in your country There was a problem while loading content. Please try again. When it is time to work, though, Makhachev knows all eyes are on him. Friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov once held that role as he worked his way to a 29-0 record and lightweight title, but since retiring, Makhachev became the man to light the way even as teammates like Umar Nurmagomedov climbed their way into title contention. It’s a responsibility Makhachev, generally an easygoing personality, takes seriously. FREE FIGHTS: Robertson vs Viana | Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2 | Machado Garry vs Rodriguez | Dern vs Nunes “I have to be a good example for them because Khabib was example for us,” he said. “Now it's my time, and I have to be the guy who gives them (the) right way.” Makhachev’s consistency speaks to that work. Over the last 10 years, he has shown the ability to dominate like he did against Charles Oliveira to win the title, but he has also come out on top of high-level battles such as his first fight against Alexander Volkanovski and his thriller against Dustin Poirier. After defending his lightweight title for a fourth consecutive time, Makhachev said he looked at the division and didn’t really see anyone who he felt he needed to fight. Welterweight, on the other hand, was overflowing with exciting challenges like Carlos Prates, Michael Morales, and his challenger on August 15, Ian Machado Garry. The Irishman is 10-1 since joining the roster, taking out the likes of Prates, Michael “Venom” Page and Belal Muhammad on his way to his first title shot. The 28-year-old has plenty of tools that could give Makhachev some problems, but the champion isn’t necessarily wowed with “The Future.” “This guy (doesn’t) have some something special,” Makhachev said. “He's not a hard puncher. He's not a good wrestler. He's good fighter who have all skills. He (has) good striking, good wrestling, some maybe blue belt of jujitsu, but nothing special. And for me, it's just different opponent who want to take my belt, and I do everything. I (am) working so hard (the) last couple of months to defend my belt.” At 34 years old, one can fairly wonder how much longer Makhachev wants to fight. If he stayed at 155 pounds, that timeline might look shorter, but he is enjoying life at welterweight, and playfully musing about the potential of stretching his streak to 20. Watch This And Every UFC Event On Paramount+ He doesn’t have any shortage of guys at 170 pounds itching to get their shot at gold, so that very well could be in play, but first comes breaking Silva’s record. Makhachev remains steadfast in his work and demeanor. Machado Garry is the next man up, which means he is the next man Makhachev is prepared to beat. “No matter who is in front of me, I just have to defend my belt because I'm the best fighter in the world,” Makhachev said. “I want many, many more years (as) UFC champion.” Don't miss a moment of UFC 330: Makhachev vs Machado Garry, live from Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 15, 2026. The early prelims start at 5pm ET/2pm PT, followed by the prelims at 7pm ET/4pm PT and main card at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Stream the entire event live on Paramount+.