The time has come for Islam Makhachev to return to the Octagon for his first defence of the Welterweight belt at UFC 330 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. As well as retaining the title, a victory would also break the record for the most consecutive wins in UFC history.
The new Women’s Strawweight champion, Mackenzie Dern, will also put her title on the line against Gillian Robertson, whilst we have a stacked card to look forward to before the main event. Let's find the best UFC 330 predictions.
UFC 330 betting tips
Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry prediction
Ian Machado Garry finally found his way to the title, but most people do not believe he has what it takes to dethrone Islam Makhachev and become the first man to beat him since 2015.
Islam has always been too big for the lightweight division, and he certainly looks right at home in the higher weight class. Perhaps the extra kilos will make him a little slower, but his strikes will be far more devastating and carry much more weight.
Makhachev must be aware that he cannot risk takedowns in the clinch against such a tall opponent, but we all know that his strength lies in his timing.
Garry has a chance of winning a round or two if he manages to stay on his feet, because by the rules of the sport he’ll need to outstrike Makhachev. That’s why I don’t expect this fight to end in a knockout for either side.
It’s more likely we’ll see five rounds and a judges’ decision, and I doubt Makhachev will lose. Garry’s size will make him difficult to submit, so Makhachev is more likely to look for control and ground-and-pound to score points.
- Fight to go the distance – 13/20
- Islam Makhachev to win via decision – 5/4
Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson prediction
Mackenzie Dern will be keen to prove herself as the new champion, and a win alone won’t be enough. She’ll need to dominate and finish the bout as quickly as possible, but Gillian Robertson is certainly not the sort of fighter you can submit.
The Canadian has suffered just one submission defeat in her career, back in 2018. At the same time, she is no less skilled than Dern on the ground, given that she holds the record for the most submissions in the women’s side of the UFC (7), as well as for the most finishes overall (10).
As much as I’ve liked Mackenzie Dern right from the start of her career, I reckon the title will change hands again, and if that happens, I think it’ll be by knockout or submission.
Robertson has no experience in five-round bouts and is likely to struggle with pacing herself. I therefore expect her to try to finish the fight early, which in turn could give Dern the opportunity to win by capitalising on a mistake.
- Fight to go the distance (No) – 23/20
Edson Barboza vs Esteban Ribovics prediction
Given that he is 40 years old, the legendary veteran Edson Barboza is mainly there to earn money, with the UFC pairing him with opponents who are just starting to climb the rankings and need high-profile victories.
But even at this age, Barbosa remains difficult to finish, whilst Esteban Ribovics does not always manage to impress, with many of his recent fights ending in split decisions. In this instance, I see good value in over 1.5 rounds, although I expect Barbosa to lose again.
- Over 1.5 rounds – 17/20
Vladislav has been professionally engaged in freelance journalism for seven years and has worked with numerous leading sports publications. A football and martial arts fanatic, he spent years training in both disciplines before turning to writing.
GambleAware