Islam Makhachev knocks Alexander Volkanovski out with head kick, defends title in UFC 294 main event
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to us today, October 21, 2023, for UFC 294 live from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Headlining the event was a championship rematch at 155 lbs between UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (25-1) and UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (26-3).
Former champion Charles Oliveira was originally slated to rematch Makhachev for the title himself. However, 12 days ago he suffered a cut in his final round of sparring and the fight was cancelled, giving Volkanovski his second shot at the champion.
Makhachev hadn’t fought since their first encounter back in February, while Volkanovski had since dropped back down to 145 lbs to make the fifth defense of his featherweight title against interim champion Yair Rodriguez in July.
Continue reading to see how this epic champion versus champion clash went down:
Islam Makhachev makes the second defense of his lightweight championship today at UFC 294.
Official Result: Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski via TKO (head kick & punches) at 3:06 of round one
Makhachev opens up the bout with an inside leg kick before going to the body with it. He then goes upstairs, landing a head kick about one minute in, though Volkanovski remains unfazed. Makhachev shoots in on a takedown shortly following, Volkanovski stuffing it well though he’s forced back to the fence.
Makhachev lands some good knees to the body in the clinch, Volkanovski reversing him on the fence and returning with some knees to the body of his own.
Once the two separate Makhachev lands a good left hand before eventually landing that left head kick again, this time badly hurting and dropping Volkanovski. The champion follows up with some nasty punches on the ground and the referee is forced to stop the action.
After winning four competitive rounds (to most) in their first fight, Makhachev clearly and dominantly lost the fifth and final round of his first fight with Volkanovski earlier this year.
This set the narrative that Volkanovski was going to be the guy to beat him, and Makhachev just shut that down in three minutes, remaining the only man to defeat Volkanovski through his 15-fight promotional tenure, and he just became the first man to ever finish him inside the octagon.
ISLAM MAKHACHEV KNOCK OUTTTTTTpic.twitter.com/LzAjre7o7W
— iBeast (@ibeastIess) October 21, 2023
Over the course of his last three fights, Makhachev stopped Charles Oliveira, snapping his 11-fight win streak, before snapping Volkanovski’s 22-fight win streak (12-0 UFC). And if there was any doubt about him before, there isn’t anymore following this second win over the UFC featherweight champion.
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