Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski 2 UFC 294 Live Blog
Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski are set to clash in a rematch in the main event of UFC 294 PPV event for UFC Lightweight Championship.
Islam Makhachev is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion and he won the title exactly 52 weeks ago at the same venue as of this event by beating Charles Oliveira. His only title defense so far came against Volkanovski itself at UFC 284 where he got a unanimous decision win. He was supposed to take on Oliveira in a rematch, but an injury as forced him to take on a different rematch. Will the result also change though?
Volkanovski is also the reigning featherweight champion and has defeated Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 after his loss to Makhachev. He is also coming back after a hand surgery. How much will it affect his game? Will he be able to become a two-division reigning champion in his second attempt?
CHAMP vs CHAMP, RUNNING IT BACK FOR THE STRAP 🏆@MakhachevMMA vs @AlexVolkanovski in a rematch for the lightweight title at #UFC294!!
— UFC (@ufc) October 20, 2023
[ Tomorrow at 2pmET / 11amPT on ESPN+ PPV | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/DJyasa0vYD
Tune in below to find out as we post live updates from Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski lightweight championship bout from UFC 294 event with round-by-round and play-by-play updates.
Live Updates
Volk walks out first. He is pumped for this one. Nothing to write into Makhachev’s entrance. Bruce Buffer screams in the mic to introduce the headliners. Marc Goodard is the referee.
Round 1: Islam starts with an inside leg kick. Volk is keeping his distance. He also lands an outside calf kick after 30 seconds. Islam lands a high kick. He goes for a takedown but Volk blocks it. They are scrambling on the cage though. Volk changes position and has Islam pushed into the cage. They try to hit knee strikes. Islam lands a few knee strikes before they get back to the middle. Islam lands a body kick. He lands a left punch. A left kick from Islam lands high and Volkanovski is down. Islam unloads with hammer fists, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Official Decision: Islam Makhachev won via TKO at 3:06 in round 1.
