What a warrior.
Alex Volkanovski has fallen agonisingly short in his bid to become a double UFC champion in an epic lightweight title fight with Islam Makhachev in Perth.
The Australian went the distance with the revered Russian, who narrowly prevailed via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to retain his lightweight belt.
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Makhachev v Volkanovski Fight Highlights | 03:05
Volkanovski wasn’t afraid to go on the attack but Makhachev played to his strengths, taking Volk down and spending much of the fight with him pinned on the canvas next to the fence.
Volkanovski showed immense endurance to wriggle out of countless chokeholds and somehow defended well enough to give himself a chance to win with a strong end to the fight.
The 34-year-old stormed home in the fifth round, securing a take-down and punishing Makhachev with some classic ground and pound, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Aussie to get the win.
Makhachev nailed frequent take-downs and used his sublime wrestling skills to ultimately get the nod on the final scorecards.
But Volkanovski can certainly hold his head high after giving arguably the scariest fighter in UFC the toughest fight of his career.
The Aussie was vying to become just the eighth fighter ever to conquer two divisions and the fifth to hold two belts simultaneously.
Many UFC pundits argued Volkanovski was robbed of victory, pointing out the judge who scored the fight 49-46 in Makhachev’s favour.
UFC legend Nate Diaz tweeted: “Yeah right Islam got his asss whooped.”
ESPN’s Laurie Horesh said: “Who on earth scored that 49-46? Laughable.”
Rapper Lil Wayne posted: “Not sure if I’ll ever watch UFC again.”
Another featherweight title defence awaits Volkanovski, and there’s no doubt he will want another crack at attaining double champ status very soon.
Earlier on the UFC 284 card, the action was headlined by wins to Aussie fighters Jack Jenkins, Jamie Mullarkey, Josh Culibao, Justin Tafa and Jack Della Maddalena.
Volkvanovski vs Makhachev round-by-round updates
Round 1: Volkanovski had an active start, landing a hard punch to the chin and switching stances, but Makhachev finished the round strong.
The Russian landed a blow of his own and took Volk down and ground out the rest of the round against the fence, holding the Aussie in a hard choke.
Round 2: Makhachev is showing why he’s the best wrestler in the game.
Volkanovski landed a shot but just like in Round 1, Makhachev immediately took him down and put his grappling skills to work.
Volk is putting up a hell of a fight, but the Russian is just on top and might just have the edge on the scorecards.
Round 3: Volkanovski is putting up one hell of a fight, defending Makhachev’s relentless grappling well.
Volk might have won one round so far to Makhachev’s two, so will need an epic finish to win this fight. An extremely close fight that might go the distance.
Round 4: Volk might have taken that round and somehow he still has a fighting chance.
Makhachev pinned him up against the fence and an angry Volkanovski was chirping as they hammered each other’s heads at the end of the round.
Round 5: Volkanovski escaped another take-down from Islam and managed his best take-down of the fight with a minute to go.
The Aussie finished with some vintage ground and pound to give himself half a chance on the scorecards.
Volk gives gracious post-fight interview | 02:30
Rising Aussie continues hot streak
Jack Della Maddalena proved why he’s the next big thing in UFC with another first round win over Randy Brown.
Fighting in front of his home crowd, the local Perth boy made Brown faceplant with a right hand, before pouncing and hammering punching him with some ground and pound.
Maddalena finished the job with a textbook rear naked choke.
Another fight, another clinical win from the rising welterweight star.
Maddalena has now won all four of his UFC fights in the first round.
Now he has his sights on a fight with an opponent ranked in the top 15.
UFC commentator Jon Anik said: Jack Della Maddalena is the real deal!”
Michael Bisping said: “That was sensational!”
Justin Tafa’s insane walkoff KO
Sheesh. Aussie heavyweight Justin Tafa only needed a minute to defeat Parker Porter with a walkoff knockout.
Tafa waited for an opening and landed a brutal left hook to Porter’s chin, finishing the job with a right hand that sent Porter crashing down, seeing stars with his blood splattered across the canvas.
It’s Tafa’s third win from six UFC fights.
Jimmy Crute fights out draw
The main card is underway and Aussie Jimmy Crute has fought out a brutal draw against Alonzo Menifield.
Menifield hammered Crute with several blows in the first round but the Aussie showed he has a granite chin to stay standing and go the distance.
Crute secured several take-downs and Menifield was docked a point for grabbing the fence late in the fight.
Aussie pulls off insane comeback
Josh Culibao is the third Aussie fighter to win after pulling off an epic comeback win over Melsik Baghdasaryan.
Culibao copped a spinning heel from Baghdasaryan that landed right in the spot no man wants to be hit.
He had the allowed five minutes to recover from the low blow, but Culibao was back in action in a couple of minutes.
Culibao claimed he had copped an illegal headbutt in the second round, but the referee didn’t stop the fight.
The Aussie took his chance, swooping to take Baghdasaryan to the canvas and pin in him a rear naked choke that soon had the Armenian tapping out.
Aussie makes statement on debut
Jack Jenkins has made a statement on his UFC debut, defeating Don Shainis via unanimous decision.
Jenkins hit Shainis with some brutal leg kicks in the opening round, before Shainis managed to take Jenkins to the ground in the second round.
But the Aussie took Shainis down and nearly managed a rear-naked choke.
He was a whisker away from sending the American to another planet with a leg kick to the win, but secured the win with several take-downs.
Jamie Mullarkey also defeated Francisco Prado via unanimous decision and the Aussie called out English cult hero Paddy Pimblett after the win.
Volkanovski to break McGregor’s record
The eyes of Australia and the MMA world are on UFC 284, and it could see Alex Volkanovski break the record for the most pay-per-views for a UFC fight.
The blockbuster fight between Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev, the No. 1 and No. 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the world, has the PPV record on notice.
The longstanding all-time PPV buys record is from Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in 2018, which had 2.4 million PPVs sold.
“I don’t think it’s ever happened – the number one and number two pound-for-pound (fighting each other),” UFC boss Dana White said.
“I mean it’s a monster fight and you know, just the gate alone out of there is going to be an MSG-type gate.
“And the pre-buys for pay-per-view … is beating all the fights of its type and it is probably going to break the record for pay-per-view in Australia and New Zealand, the UFC all (time) record, which was Conor and somebody, but it’s looking like it’s going to break that record. “It’s a monster fight.”
McGregor is set to return to the octagon against Michael Chandler in his first UFC fight since breaking his leg two years ago.
HOW TO WATCH UFC 284?
UFC 284 is available to stream via Main Event and Kayo.
FULL UFC 284 FIGHT CARD
Alex Volkanovski def Islam Makhachev via unanimous decision
Yair Rodriguez def Josh Emmett via submission (triangle choke)
Jack Della Maddalena def Randy Brown via submission (R1 2.13)
Justin Tafa def Parker Porter via KO (R1 1.06)
Jimmy Crute vs Alonzo Menifield — draw
PRELIMS
Modestas Bukauskas def Tyson Pedro via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 2)
Josh Culibao def Melsik Baghdasaryan via submission (R2 rear naked choke)
EARLY PRELIMS
Kleydon Rodrigues def Shannon Ross via R1 TKO
Jamie Mullarkey def Francisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Jack Jenkins def Don Shainis via unanimous decison (30-27, 30-27, 29-28))
Loma Lookboonme def Elise Reed via submission (rear naked choke round 2)
Blake Bilder def Shane Young via unanmous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)
Elves Brenner def Zubhaira Tukhugov via split decision (29-28, 30-27)
