Islam Makhachev breaks UFC winning streak record

Islam Makhachev has extended his UFC winning streak to 18 victories following his win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, breaking the previous record held by Anderson Silva. The victory includes four successful lightweight title defenses and a successful transition to the welterweight division, where he currently holds a championship belt.

Gable Steveson has identified Makhachev as the current pound-for-pound number one fighter but noted that he must still surpass Jon Jones’ championship longevity to be considered the greatest of all time. Steveson cited a benchmark of approximately 17 title defenses, whereas Jones holds 16 UFC title-fight wins and 12 successful defenses.

Makhachev expressed uncertainty regarding which future records he will pursue, noting that while he has no immediate plans to retire, he anticipates at least three more difficult fights ahead. He acknowledged the rising competition within his division and the challenge of maintaining dominance in a second weight class.