UFC 330 power rankings: Makhachev leads Philadelphia winners

Islam Makhachev tops the UFC 330 power rankings after defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in the main event in Philadelphia. The victory allowed Makhachev to retain his title, although the champion had to work through a difficult contest against an opponent who resisted his wrestling throughout.

Machado Garry’s takedown defence limited Makhachev’s control, but the champion continued to pursue his grappling and prevented the challenger from building a decisive advantage on the feet. Makhachev also produced the fight’s defining moment when he dropped Machado Garry with a head kick after the Irishman left a clinch with his hands low.

Mackenzie Dern is next after a dominant unanimous-decision win over Gillian Robertson in the co-main event. Dern controlled the first three rounds with effective striking before using her wrestling to move the fight to the mat. Robertson’s grappling prevented a submission, but Dern remained in command and secured the first successful defence of her strawweight championship.

Dustin Stoltzfus produced one of the evening’s biggest surprises by submitting Mansur Abdul-Malik in the second round with a rear-naked choke. Stoltzfus arrived in Philadelphia after two consecutive defeats, while Abdul-Malik had been viewed as the fighter expected to rebound. The result gave Stoltzfus the 17th win of his career, his fourth UFC victory and a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

Jalin Turner strengthened his own revival with a 39-second first-round knockout of Kaue Fernandes. It was his second consecutive stoppage, following his UFC 323 finish of Edson Barboza, and extended his professional record to 16-9. Both wins have come in the opening round after Turner had previously endured a two-fight skid and decided to step away before reversing that decision.

Esteban Ribovics completed the rankings after stopping Barboza at 1:32 of the second round. The Argentine overwhelmed the veteran in their lightweight meeting, forcing a stoppage after sustained striking pressure. Barboza then announced his retirement from the Octagon, while Ribovics emerged from the contest as a potential successor to the Brazilian’s reputation as one of the division’s dangerous stand-up fighters.