Islam Makhachev makes first defense of lightweight title, defeats Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, February 11, 2023, for UFC 284, going down live from the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Headlining the event was a champion versus champion clash, as the no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (25-1) moved up to the lightweight division to challenge no. 2 pound-for-pound ranked UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (23-1) in attempt to become a two-division champion.
Volkanovski has gone 12-0 thus far into his UFC run, five of those being 145 lb title fights, the latter four of which he defended his throne. He’s 3-0 against Max Holloway, and he’s also defeated the likes of former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, as well as multi-time title challengers Chad Mendes and Brian Ortega.
Makhachev on the other hand just submitted 3rd-degree BJJ black belt Charles Oliveira to capture the UFC lightweight championship, which improved his win streak to 11-straight, making him 12-1 inside the octagon.
This is the first time ever in MMA history the the no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet faced the no. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.
Continue reading to see how this epic lightweight championship main event went down:
Official Result: Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Volkanovski is doing a good job of switching stances and trying to confuse Makhachev, and he lands a nice punch that stumbles Makhachev backward a couple minutes in. Makhachev is fighting safe up until they both unload on punching combinations about three minutes in.
Makhachev drops Volkanovski, who returns right back to his feet, before Makhachev partially lands a head kick and secures double underhooks immediately following. Makhachev takes Volkanovski’s back from here and holds position for the remaining minute of round one.
Volkanovski dazes Makhachev again 90 seconds into the second but gets single legged down to the mat right after landing the punch. Makhachev is unable to hold him down though and they’re back to striking range.
Makhachev begins to let his hands go toward the end of the round and wobbles Volkanovski once again, though Volkanovski is right there landing shots of his own.
This is a very competitive fight through the first ten minutes.
Volkanovski is certainly testing the will of Makhachev, and he’s the first person to really do that. Round three was also quite close, and Makhachev is heading into the first fourth round of his career.
Makhachev times a beautiful double leg takedown as Volkanovski is coming in and puts him on his back, before immediately transitioning to his back with both hooks in. Makhachev holds Volkanovski’s back for the remaining four or so minutes of round four.
Though Makhachev is able to secure another momentary takedown in the fifth and final round, he was ultimately denied on a number of them, and he became quite exhausted in the final five minutes.
Volkanovski nearly took him down, but was unable to, and instead knocks him down, remaining in Makhachev’s guard reigning down punches for the final minute of the fight.
Alexander Volkanovski gave Islam Makhachev all he could handle tonight, but it wasn’t enough as Makhachev makes the first defense of his UFC lightweight championship, snapping Volkanovski’s 22-fight win streak and improves his own to 12-straight.
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