Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

One of UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev’s new teammates will save one of the undercard bouts at UFC 330.

Islam Makhachev will kick off his UFC welterweight title reign against streaking contender Ian Machado Garry later this month at UFC 330. Makhachev won the UFC welterweight belt last year at UFC 322, defeating Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision.

Makhachev, the UFC’s pound-for-pound king, will look to turn away another threat inside the Octagon and extend his ongoing win streak. Garry presents some challenges for the UFC welterweight champion, which could make the fight extremely competitive.

But Makhachev vs. Garry isn’t the only intriguing bout at UFC 330. Welterweight mainstay Geoff Neal was supposed to face Chidi Njokuani on the undercard before withdrawing due to injury.

With weeks to prepare, one of Makhachev’s new teammates will fight Njokuani to add depth to UFC 330.

Joel Alvarez set to join new teammate Islam Makhachev on UFC 330 card

UFC welterweight Joel Alvarez, who joined Makhachev’s camp earlier this year, will replace the injured Neal against Njokuani at UFC 330. Alvarez has won four of his last five fights, but is coming off a submission loss to Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 328 earlier this year.

Journalist Alvaro Colmenero was the first to report the news of Alvarez’s addition to UFC 330.

As for Njokuani, he’s looking to get back in the win column after back-to-back losses to Carlos Leal and Jake Matthews. His last win came against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in March 2025.

Alvarez defeated Vicente Luque last October by unanimous decision in his welterweight debut.

Makhachev vs. Garry also features a strawweight title co-main event bout between Mackenzie Dern and Gillian Robertson. Dern defeated Virna Jandiroba for the then-vacant strawweight championship last year at UFC 321.

Makhachev hasn’t lost since getting knocked out by Adriano Martins at UFC 192.

What is your prediction for Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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