February 12, (THEWILL) – Islam Makhachev retained his lightweight championship title at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia on Saturday, defeating Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision.
The bout was a highly anticipated event, pitting the UFC’s number one and number two pound-for-pound fighters against each other. The first round saw both fighters land significant blows, with Makhachev dropping Volkanovski briefly and trying to sneak in a choke before the end of the round. Volkanovski was able to recover and return with successful strikes in the second round, but Makhachev stunned him again.
The pace slowed in the third round, with both fighters being more calculated and patient with their attacks. Volkanovski’s technical striking found more success in the final minutes of the round, which was acknowledged by the Perth crowd. In Round 4, Makhachev completed a perfectly-timed takedown and controlled Volkanovski from his back, although he was unable to muster much offense.
Volkanovski fought back in the final round, landing a punch that rocked Makhachev and sent him to the ground. The Perth crowd exploded as Volkanovski rained down ground-and-pound until the final bell. With experts and fans unsure of the outcome, Makhachev’s name was announced, extending his winning streak to 12.
The result was greeted with boos from the crowd who considered it a misjudgement of the fight they witnessed. However, the defeat marks Volkanovski’s first in the UFC and snaps a 22-fight winning streak.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
