Russian fighter topples UFC pound-for-pound king
In a thrilling main event at UFC 284, Russia’s Islam Makhachev delivered Alex Volkanovski his first defeat in ten years. The match is being hailed as an instant classic. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC lightweight title in a grueling battle in Australia, showcasing his skills against local favorite Alex Volkanovski in the headliner of UFC 284.
The Russian champion, a formidable Dagestani grappler, entered the octagon as the reigning 155-pound titleholder, facing a tough challenge from Volkanovski, who was stepping up from the featherweight division in search of becoming the UFC’s newest two-division champion.
The match was intensely contested, with both fighters showcasing their abilities on their feet and on the ground. Ultimately, Makhachev’s relentless aggression and dominating grappling secured him a unanimous decision victory as reflected on the judges’ scorecards.
“Thank you Alex. It was a very good fight,” Makhachev remarked following what may be regarded as one of the toughest bouts of his career. “I need some tough fights. I have to improve. I [thought] he’s going to be easy on the ground but this guy improved a lot.”
This victory is likely to propel Makhachev to the top spot in the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings, possibly replacing Volkanovski as the world’s premier fighter across all weight classes. This was a historic event as it marked the first time in the UFC's 30-year history that the top two ranked pound-for-pound fighters faced off in the octagon.
“I show why I’m number one,” Makhachev stated in his post-fight interview. “They have to improve more. You like or you don’t like but I am the best fighter in the world right now.”
Volkanovski, fighting in front of a passionate home crowd, extended his congratulations to Makhachev after the fight.
“Obviously a lot of people are going to be happy with that because they never gave me a chance,” said the Australian, who managed to put Makhachev in tough spots during the five-round contest. “I knew I prepared properly, it was a fun fight. Congrats to Islam.”
With this victory, Makhachev has now won 12 consecutive fights and solidified his position at the pinnacle of the UFC lightweight division, continuing the legacy of Dagestani fighters in the organization, much like his close friend and training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Russian champion, a formidable Dagestani grappler, entered the octagon as the reigning 155-pound titleholder, facing a tough challenge from Volkanovski, who was stepping up from the featherweight division in search of becoming the UFC’s newest two-division champion.
The match was intensely contested, with both fighters showcasing their abilities on their feet and on the ground. Ultimately, Makhachev’s relentless aggression and dominating grappling secured him a unanimous decision victory as reflected on the judges’ scorecards.
“Thank you Alex. It was a very good fight,” Makhachev remarked following what may be regarded as one of the toughest bouts of his career. “I need some tough fights. I have to improve. I [thought] he’s going to be easy on the ground but this guy improved a lot.”
This victory is likely to propel Makhachev to the top spot in the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings, possibly replacing Volkanovski as the world’s premier fighter across all weight classes. This was a historic event as it marked the first time in the UFC's 30-year history that the top two ranked pound-for-pound fighters faced off in the octagon.
“I show why I’m number one,” Makhachev stated in his post-fight interview. “They have to improve more. You like or you don’t like but I am the best fighter in the world right now.”
Volkanovski, fighting in front of a passionate home crowd, extended his congratulations to Makhachev after the fight.
“Obviously a lot of people are going to be happy with that because they never gave me a chance,” said the Australian, who managed to put Makhachev in tough spots during the five-round contest. “I knew I prepared properly, it was a fun fight. Congrats to Islam.”
With this victory, Makhachev has now won 12 consecutive fights and solidified his position at the pinnacle of the UFC lightweight division, continuing the legacy of Dagestani fighters in the organization, much like his close friend and training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
