Islam Makhachev is likely to retain his title this summer, so say the oddsmakers.
On Wednesday, the UFC announced that Makhachev will make the first defense of his welterweight title when he takes on Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. The card also features Mackenzie Dern making the first defense of her strawweight title as she faces Gillian Robertson.
Not long after both fights were announced, sportsbook BetOnline.Ag released its opening odds for the two title fights, with both champions favored to retain their belts.
Makhachev enters his first title defense as a considerable betting favorite at -365, with the comeback on Garry at +300. These odds suggest that Makhachev has a 78.5% chance of retaining his title.
Dern, meanwhile, is also a favorite, but not by so great a margin, coming in at -210, with the return on Robertson at +180. These odds suggest Dern has a 67% chance to win.
Currently the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Makhachev is coming off a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, and is tied with Anderson Silva for the longest win streak in UFC history at 16. In contrast, Garry is only on a two-fight win streak, but both have come over top welterweights, a decision over Carlos Prates, and then a decision over former champion Belal Muhammad in November.
A multiple-time BJJ world champion, Dern finally won UFC gold in October, taking the vacant title with a decision win over Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321. Robertson, meanwhile, is on a five-fight win streak, most recently defeating Amanda Lemos in March.
UFC 330 takes place on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
