Alexander Volkanovsky failed in his quest for fame, but he gave credit to his many naysayers. UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight champion Volkanovski battled it out in five hard rounds. Makachev retained his title, but the result will certainly be debated for some time.
Makachev and Volkanovsky skillfully used each other's greatest strengths. Volkanovski managed to shed his confidence in Makhachev's grappling and aggressive approach. However, Makachev mastered the reach with his feet and successfully countered Volkanovsky. All five rounds were contested, but the momentum moved him from Makachev to Volkanovski every five minutes.
The 31-year-old Makachev continues to garner accolades with this victory, increasing his winning streak to his 12th.
In a post-fight interview, Makachev told UFC commentator Michael Bisping, "I showed why I'm number one. Love it or hate it, I'm the best number one fighter in the world." Told. "I want real competitors. No fakes."
Round 2 was a big swing round. Volkanowski appeared to have dropped his defending champion, but Makachev had a quick shot to secure a second takedown. Later in the round, Makachev hit Volkanovski with a big punch, knocking the challenger off balance and forcing him to retreat. Volkanovski wasn't always able to block takedown attempts, but he regularly peeled the notoriously sticky Makhachev, breaking it apart or pinning him to a fence. Not enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the martial arts world, he's two of the best in the business. For the best analysis and in-depth news, including immediate analysis of UFC 284 at the end of the event, subscribe to Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell's Morning His Combat.
The UFC 284 event saw a thrilling main event between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski for the lightweight title. Makhachev emerged victorious, earning a unanimous decision from the judges (48-47, 48-47, 49-46). The fight was closely contested, with both fighters having their moments, but Makhachev was able to edge it out with his performance in the final round. As a result, Makhachev is expected to overtake Volkanovski's No. 1 pound-for-pound spot in the UFC rankings.
The co-main event saw Yair Rodriguez claim the interim featherweight championship after defeating Josh Emmett via second-round submission. Volkanovski and Rodriguez are set to unify the featherweight titles in a future fight.
The undercard also saw some impressive performances, including a first-round submission win by Jack Della Maddalena, a first-round knockout by Justin Tafa, and a second-round submission by Josh Culibao. Additionally, Loma Lookboonmee and Elves Brenner both secured wins on the night.
In conclusion, UFC 284 was a thrilling event filled with exciting fights and finishes. Fans can look forward to future matchups, including the featherweight title unification bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez.