Georges St-Pierre 27 Title Defenses

Lore & Background

The event marked the promotion's fourth visit to Philadelphia, its first event since UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje in March 2019 and first numbered event since UFC 133 in August 2011. The main event featured UFC Welterweight Champion Islam Makhachev defending his title against Ian Machado Garry. Makhachev defeated Garry by unanimous decision, surpassing Anderson Silva's record for the longest winning streak in UFC history.

In Their Own Story

The MGM Grand Arena hummed with a low, electric murmur. The lights dimmed to a single white spot over the center of the octagon, and the sound of a Canadian folk song drifted from the speakers—quiet, almost reverent. In the corner, a tall, lean man in a black robe methodically taped his hands, his jaw set, his eyes fixed on a point just beyond the cage fence. The challenger across the way bounced on his toes, shouting, trying to find a frequency that would rattle the champion. It didn't work. It never did. The referee's voice cut through the noise, and for the next twenty-five minutes, the crowd would watch a lesson in control—each takedown precise, each ground position locked in, each strike a sentence in an argument the challenger never stood a chance of winning. When the referee raised the champion's arm, the arena exhaled as one, and the streak continued, one more name added to the ledger of the untouchable.

Reader's Guide

The card consisted of twelve bouts and was streamed on Paramount+. The co-main event featured UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Mackenzie Dern defending her title against Gillian Robertson. A middleweight bout between Eric McConico and Donte Johnson took place at the event, originally scheduled for the prior week.

Did You Know?

• Islam Makhachev surpassed Anderson Silva's record of 16 consecutive UFC wins with his victory at this event.
• The fight between Makhachev and Garry was deemed underwhelming by several pundits, considered highly skilled but less than entertaining.
• Joe Rogan suggested following the fight that Makhachev could return to Lightweight, noting he struggled against heavier opponents at 170 pounds.