UFC 284 performed host to one of many largest fights within the promotion’s 30-year historical past on Saturday evening on the RAC Enviornment in Perth, Australia. No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter and reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski stepped as much as the light-weight division to problem newly minted 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev within the night’s fundamental occasion.
Issues began slowly with each fighters sizing each other up, however the Australian crowd virtually got here unglued two minutes into the opening spherical when he landed a strong left that despatched Makhachev stumbling backward. Two minutes go to, Volkanovski moved in with a mixture, however ate a counter proper that briefly dropped him to a knee. Makhachev used the chance to unleash a floor assault, getting Volkanovski to the bottom with simply over a minute to go within the spherical. Volkanovski was capable of survive the early submission makes an attempt of Makhachev a lot to the delight of the Australian crowd.
The second spherical noticed Volkanovski taken down as soon as once more, however to Makhachev’s chagrin, ‘The Nice’ was capable of work his means again up and compelled Makhachev to have interaction on the toes for a majority of the spherical. Makhachev confirmed his capacity to face and commerce with Volkanovski all through the spherical however sought to return to the bottom sport within the third. Makhachev scored one other takedown, however once more, Volkanovski labored his means again up with relative ease.
A majority of the fourth spherical was spent on the bottom with Makhachev scoring an early takedown and controlling the again of Volkanovski. Going into the fifth, it was clear that Makhachev was dropping steam. He was nonetheless capable of work Volkanovski to the bottom however was unable to maintain him there. Volkanovski turned up the warmth within the remaining minutes of the spherical, dropping Makhachev with an enormous proper hand, and ended the spherical delivering floor and pound till the ultimate bell, closing out a memorable UFC 284 occasion.
Official End result: Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski through unanimous resolution (48-47, 48-47, and 49-46) to retain the UFC light-weight championship at UFC 284
Verify Out Highlights from Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 Beneath:
