The 2 greatest fighters within the UFC squared off in the primary occasion of UFC 284 from Perth, Australia, when Islam Makhachev (24-1), the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter and the recently-crowned light-weight champ, did simply sufficient to retain his title with a unanimous resolution victory over Alexander Volkanovski (25-2), the present featherweight champion and the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter within the sport.

Makhachaev and Volkanovski spent the primary minute testing their vary, with the gang erupting at Volkanovski’s first strike. The challenger despatched Makhachaev stumbling backwards with an enormous proper hook, straight left combo. Makhachaev stood and traded palms with Volkanovski, dropping the challenger to a knee earlier than incomes the takedown towards the cage. Makhachaev took Volkanovski’s again with lower than a minute remaining within the first along with his again towards the cage, cranking on the challenger’s neck earlier than the buzzer signaled the tip of the spherical.

Volkanovski was extremely lively, refusing to let the champion management the tempo. Volkanovski jumped in and dropped Makhachaev with a mix, however the champ earned a takedown and regarded to swing the momentum. Volkanovski twisted uncontrolled on the bottom and made his method again to his ft, touchdown a glancing knee to the pinnacle on his method out. Makhachaev harm Volkanovski with a straight left that despatched the challenger backwards, however he was in a position to get better to throw extra massive photographs of his personal. Issues slowed down a bit for Volkanovski, as Makhachaev regarded to regulate the tempo, strolling the challenger backwards towards the cage. Volkanovski ended the spherical in dominant place, controlling the Thai clinch towards the cage.

Within the third, each fighters refused to surrender any floor, as they traded photographs whereas circling one another. An inside leg kick triggered Makhachaev to stumble, as he went again to the Thai clinch after which transitioned the challenger to the bottom. Makhachaev took Volkanovski’s again but once more, however he made his method again to his ft and become the champ towards the cage. They traded bombs on the break, once more refusing to provide an inch within the evenly-matched bout.

To start the championship rounds, Makhachaev’s southpaw stance gave Volkanovski issues earlier than incomes a takedown simply two minutes in to the spherical. Makhachaev took the challenger’s again as he tried to make his strategy to the cage, locking his physique up and wrapping his arms round his neck, successfully working out the clock on the spherical.

Within the fifth and remaining spherical, Volkanovksi knew he wanted to win the spherical to also have a shot at successful the combat. He continued to press ahead, on the lookout for any alternative to trigger harm. Makhachaev lower him with a shot to his left eye and Volkanovksi fought out of two takedown makes an attempt. With two minutes to go, Volkanovski emptied the tank, throwing the whole lot he had and incomes a takedown of his personal. Volkanovksi sat Makhachaev with an enormous proper hand, then jumped on prime and tried to finish the combat with lower than a minute to go. Volkanovski postured up and landed bombs earlier than the bell sounded for this combat to go the gap. Two judges scored the combat 48-47 in favor of the champion, whereas one scored it 49-46.

Makhachaev submitted Charles Oliveira in October final 12 months, taking good care of the previous champion in simply two rounds. His win capped a meteoric rise that noticed Makhachaev combat thrice in 2021 and twice final 12 months en path to changing into the highest canine within the division.

Volkonovski’s resume heading into Saturday evening could have been much more spectacular. Wins over José Aldo and Max Holloway kicked issues off in 2019, with victories over Brian Ortega and the Korean Zombie blended in. He hinted at returning to featherweight for his subsequent combat, with Yair Rodríguez successful the interim title earlier within the present.