UFC 294: Makhachev def Volkanovski, live updates, highlights, results and analysis
Alex Volkanovski’s revenge mission ended in disaster with the Australian UFC legend knocked out in devastasting fashion by Islam Makhahev.
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Alex Volkanovski admits he was caught in a perfect set-up by Islam Makhachev after being knocked out in the first round of his late-notice lightweight title rematch at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
The Aussie was stunned when Makhachev connected with a perfectly placed left high kick.
Makhachev’s shin rattled off the top of Volkanovski’s head, sending him to the canvas.
With Volkanovski struggling to get his bearings, the lightweight champion pounced with some ground and pound before referee Mark Goddard stepped in and stopped the fight.
Makhachev had opened the round with a series of kicks to the body and legs, before going high with two minutes left in the frame to defend his 155-pound belt.
He revealed he’d been training the set-up for months in preparation to fight Charles Oliveira, and the approach worked on Volkanovski too.
“We always did this in the locker room and in training,” he said.
“I showed him a couple of low kicks and body kicks, then I changed to a high kick.
“This was all planned for the last few months for Oliveira and nothing changed.”
A distraught Volkanovski paced around the Octagon and leaned on the edge of the cage in the moments after the stoppage as the enormity of the moment hit home.
The result is the first time Volkanovski has been knocked out in over 10 years, and by his own admission, probably ends his hopes of fighting for the lightweight title again.
After taking the fight on 11 days’ notice, Volkanovski said he was caught in a perfect trap.
“Obviously a great set up, good kick, he’s probably seen something,” he said.
“It’s hard, I don’t like losing, it hurts me, but he’s a great champion, what do you do?
“I back myself every single time. I stand by that – always back yourself – but Islam’s one man where you don’t want to back yourself if you don’t prepare properly, because look what he can do to you.”
Re-live the fight action from Volkanovski’s first-round loss and the chaotic undercard below
7.05AM: VOLK KO’D IN FIRST ROUND SHOCKER
Alex Volkanovski has been knocked out in the first round of his lightweight title rematch with Islam Makhachev.
Makhachev rattled the Aussie with a perfectly placed left high kick in the final seconds of the opening frame.
Makhachev’s shin connected with the top of Volkanovski’s head, sending him to the ground.
Makhachev then forced referee Mark Goddard to stop the action due to ground and pound.
Makhachev kicked early and often in the opening minute, and attempted his first takedown after 90 seconds. Volkanovski stuffed it and reversed the position, forcing Makhachev back against the cage.
The stunning finish left Volkanovski distraught in the cage as Makhachev retained his lightweight title.
7AM: IT’S VOLKANOVSKI TIME
Alex Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev are both in the cage. Volk walked out to Land Down Under, and although Makhachev received a massive cheer, the crowd wasn’t entirely against Volkanovski.
Five rounds to decide the lightweight champion of the world!
6.45AM: CHIMAEV EYES TITLE SHOT
Khamzat Chimaev looks to have secured a middleweight title shot against Sean Strickland after beating former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman by majority decision.
Chimaev had been in line to fight Paulo Costa until the Brazilian was forced out with injury.
Usman stepped in on 11 days’ notice, with UFC president Dana White saying the winner would get a shot at Strickland.
Chimaev looked like cruising to a straightforward win after absolutely dominating the first round.
Usman fought back in the next two rounds, having significant success in the stand-up exchanges, before Chimaev won with scores of 29-27, 29-27 and 28-28.
And you know what that means. Volk is up next.
6.15AM: CONTROVERSY AFTER DOCTOR SHOCKER
Controversy has engulfed UFC 294, after the light-heavyweight showdown between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker was ruled a no contest due to an accidental illegal knee.
The fight was just three minutes old when Ankalaev connected with the side of Walker’s head, despite the Brazilian having a knee on the canvas.
The fight was stopped and the cageside doctor entered the Octagon to check on Walker, who appeared fine.
After some consultation, the doctor told the referee Walker couldn’t continue, and the bout was waved off as boos erupted around Etihad Arena.
When Walker realised the fight had been stopped, he approached Ankalaev and the pair squared up, wanting to keep fighting. Walker’s corner, including Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh, sprinted into the cage to cool the situation.
Ankalaev’s cornermen held him back, and UFC president Dana White also attempted to calm things down.
White could be heard telling Walker that they’d do a rematch in the future, while the sold out crowd chanted, “Let them fight!”
This doctor needs to never work an event again. #UFC294
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) October 21, 2023
Flying knee from hell
Ikram Aliskerov just sent UFC veteran Warlley Alves to the shadow realm.
Aliskerov cracked the Brazilian with a powerful jab in the second minute of their middleweight bout. The Dagestani followed up with a head kick that narrowly missed, before sending Alves to the canvas with a brutal flying knee.
Just look at it!!
🤌 pic.twitter.com/YDjwgfw9JN
— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) October 21, 2023
Scary quick guillotine choke
Said Nurmagomedov is a problem at bantamweight.
The 31-year-old just secured his third submission win via choke in his last four victories in the UFC.
And it took only a little over a minute, with Muin Gafurov tapping out in a guillotine. The tap didn’t stop Gafurov from going to sleep and convulsing on the canvas before waking up.
🥶🥶🥶 #UFC294pic.twitter.com/QWdNhiSafQ
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
5am - Pay-per-view time!
Only one of the eight prelim fights ended before the third round, and that was due to a second round low-blow.
Hoping for some more finishes on the main card.
ALL TIME LOW BLOW ENDS IN NO CONTEST
4am - Victor Henry needed to be assisted out of the cage after copping a brutal low blow early in the second round of his bantamweight fight against Javid Basharat.
Basharat clocked Henry between the legs 15 seconds into the second round, with Henry immediately falling to the canvas.
The theatrical way he fell left some spectators to say Henry was faking, but he remained on the mat for well over five minutes. The cageside doctor attempted to say Henry hadn’t been hit low, and after being given the full minutes to recover, the bout was called off and ruled a no contest.
Victor Henry needed to be assisted from the cage. #UFC#UFC294pic.twitter.com/RLsNfCNEm5
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) October 21, 2023
3am - It took until the fourth minute of the third round of the fourth fight of the night, but we’ve finally got a knockout.
Mike Breeden came home strong, landing a big right hook on Anshul Jubli’s chin, sending India’s first UFC fighter to the mat. Referee Mark Goddard was quick to step in and stop it.
Mike 'Money' Breeden gets the first finish of the night 👊
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) October 21, 2023
A huge turnaround in the third!
📺📱 #UFC294 | Order at https://t.co/shB938mzflpic.twitter.com/bKG5fbf8MF
2:30am - Three fights in, three decisions. But we’ve had some decent fights.
Quite a bit of controversy, after Muhammad Naimov should have been deducted at least one point, and maybe two, for fence grabs and low blows against Nathaniel Wood.
Naimov earned a unanimous decision victory, but Wood was short-changed by the officiating.
1am - We’re on here for the first fight of the night/morning between Shara Magomedov and Bruno Silva.
We’re on here. #UFC294pic.twitter.com/tIfXJjRvXO
— Brendan Bradford (@1bbradfo) October 21, 2023
Volk planning on a knockout
Alex Volkanovski will throw caution into the wind in search of an early finish against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
Eight months after losing a decision against the lightweight champion in Perth, Volkanovski is adamant he won’t leave it in the hands of the judges again as he looks to become the fifth simultaneous two-weight world champion.
“I’ve never really had this headspace before where it’s kill or be killed,” he told this masthead at Friday’s weigh-ins.
“I’m usually the type of fighter that always chooses the good options – the right options, and that’s why people talk about my fight IQ.
“I am going to try and make sure I am making the good decisions in there, but at the same time, I need to take more risks.
“I have to do that.”
That means getting on the front and letting his hands go early.
Volkanovski was surprised that Makhachev wasn’t stronger in their first fight, and has admitted he was too cautious as he tried to stay clear of any grappling or wrestling situations.
This time though, despite his limited preparation, the Aussie wants a highlight reel knockout inside the distance.
“I don’t want it to go into the late rounds, even though I think I can,” he said. “I don’t want to leave it to the judges again.
“So, there are many reasons why I need to finish this.
“For my legacy, for the story. A finish makes the ending to this rivalry mind blowing, and a story people will talk about forever.”
What time does UFC 294 start in Australia?
With the fights in Abu Dhabi, everything is on at a different time.
The prelims kick off at 1am AEDT, and the pay-per-view starts at 5am.
Expect Volkanovski and Makhachev to the in the cage for the main event any time after 7am.
How to watch UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski
You can watch the prelims on Kayo and Fox Sports, and the pay per view begins on Kayo and Main Event from 5am (AEDT).
UFC 294 full card and results
Lightweight championship: Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman
Light heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker
Middleweight: Warlley Alves vs. Ikram Aliskerov
Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov def. Muin Gafurov by Rd1 sub (guillotine)
Prelims
Flyweight: Muhammad Mokaev def. Tim Elliott by Rd3 sub (head and arm choke)
Lightweight: Trevor Peek def. Mohammad Yahya by UD (29-28, 30-27 x 2)
Bantamweight: Javid Basharat vs. Victor Henry ends in a no contest (low blow)
Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas def. Abu Azaitar by UD (29-28 x 3)
Lightweight: Mike Breeden def. Anshul Jubli by Rd3 KO
Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov def. Nathaniel Wood by UD (29-28 x 3)
Women’s strawweight: Viktoriia Dudakova def. Jinh Yu Frey by UD (29-28 x 3)
Middleweight: Shara Magomedov def. Bruno Silva by UD (30-27 x 3)
Originally published as UFC 294: Makhachev def Volkanovski, live updates, highlights, results and analysis
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