UFC 284

The main event is a UFC lightweight title clash between champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Alexander Volkanovski. The co-main is Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh ...

Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. - Featherweight: Blake Bilder (146) vs. - Strawweight: Loma Lookboonme (115.5) vs. - Featherweight: Jack Jenkins (145.5) vs. - Featherweight: Joshua Culibao (146) vs. - Lightweight: Jamie Mullarkey (155) vs. Headlining the prelims is Tyson Pedro vs. Rounding out the PPV is Justin Tafa vs. With four fighters taking part in title fights, they’ll need to be extra careful with their weight cuts. - Heavyweight: Justin Tafa (266) vs. The co-main is Yair Rodriguez vs. Before any of that happens we need to hit the scales.

Check out UFC 284 weigh-in results, featuring Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett title fights.

See our staff members' picks for the Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett title fights in Australia.

Crute nearly is a 2-1 favorite at the betting window, but he has just a slim 6-5 picks lead. [Parker Porter](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/parker-porter) (13-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC) meets [Justin Tafa](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/justin-tafa) (5-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in a heavyweight matchup. [Randy Brown](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/randy-brown) (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) takes on [Jack Della Maddalena](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/jack-della-maddalena) (13-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at welterweight. [Yair Rodriguez](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/yair-rodriguez) (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and [Josh Emmett](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/josh-emmett) (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC). Makhachev will put his title on the line for the first time; he hasn’t lost in more than seven years. Volkanovski, who will go after a second concurrent title, hasn’t lost in nearly 10 years. Maddalena Makhachev

In the main event, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will have to hit the 155-pound weight limit for ...

Don Shainis (146)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13253/jack-jenkins-vs-don-shainis) [Loma Lookboonmee (115.5) vs. Elise Reed (115.5)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13286/loma-lookboonmee-vs-elise-reed) [Shane Young (145.5) vs. Elves Brenner (155.5)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13360/zubaira-tukhugov-vs-elves-brenner) Blake Bilder (146)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13309/shane-young-vs-blake-bilder) [Zubaira Tukhugov (157.5)** vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (146)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13251/joshua-culibao-vs-melsik-baghdasaryan) [Shannon Ross (125.5) vs. Modestas Bukauskas (206)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13363/tyson-pedro-vs-modestas-bukauskas) [Joshua Culibao (146) vs. Francisco Prado (154.5)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13359/jamie-mullarkey-francisco-prado) Alonzo Menifield (205)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13250/jimmy-crute-vs-alonzo-menifield) Randy Brown (171)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13288/jack-della-maddalena-vs-randy-brown) [Justin Tafa (266) vs. Parker Porter (264)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13249/justin-tafa-vs-parker-porter) [Jimmy Crute (204.5) vs. Josh Emmett (145)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13247/yair-rodriguez-vs-josh-emmett) [Jack Della Maddalena (171) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (154.5)](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight/13389/islam-makhachev-vs-alexander-volkanovski) [Yair Rodriguez (145) vs.

The Fighters Step On The Scale In Perth To Make It Official For Saturday's Return To Australia.

](https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv?ex_cid=DSS-OFF-UFC-INARTICLE-EN) [UFC 284 Embedded: All Episodes](https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-284-embedded-all-epsiodes-makhachev-volkanovski-rodriguez-emmett) [UFC 284: Makhachev vs Volkanovski](/event/ufc-284), live from RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. **Zubaira Tukhugov weighed in above the lightweight limit. Featherweight Bout: Josh Culibao (146) vs Melsik Baghdasaryan (146) Light Heavyweight Bout: Tyson Pedro (206) vs Modestas Bukauskas (206)

Islam Makhachev has the tools to defeat Alexander Volkanovski on Saturday in the main event of UFC 284 in Perth, Australia.

MMA Fighting is joined by UFC featherweight Calvin Kattar to preview UFC 284 and the massive champ vs, champ main event between Islam Makhachev and ...

Additionally, they’ll discuss the interim 145-pound title fight between [Yair Rodriguez](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3094/yair-rodriguez) and [Josh Emmett](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3686/josh-emmett), other notable matchups on the card, and take viewer questions at the end. champion matchup for the UFC lightweight title in the main event of [UFC 284](https://www.mmafighting.com/fight-card/1349/ufc-284), a fight that will determine who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. [Islam Makhachev](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3279/islam-makhachev) and [Alexander Volkanovski](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4234/alexander-volkanovski) will battle it out in a champion vs. [Calvin Kattar](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4139/calvin-kattar), as they discuss the high stakes main event for Saturday’s pay-per-view event, where each division goes depending on who leaves Perth victorious, and, in honor of the NFL’s big game this weekend, some fun Makhachev vs. [Apple Podcasts](https://go.redirectingat.com/?xcust=___sb__p_23328509__t_w__r_google.com__d_D&id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/id320642139&referrer=sbnation.com), [Google Podcasts](https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL1RoZU1tYUhvdXJXaXRoQXJpZWxIZWx3YW5p), [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/27Z2RR39rjGrRcV1DiQ40J?si=5ZS0Lje7QbWITUd60cOb8g), and [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mma-fighting).

UFC 284 gives the fans in Perth, Australia two title fights on Saturday. The first sees Aussie fan favourite Alexander Volkanovski attempting to join the small ...

The pick of the non title fights is probably Jack Della Maddalena versus Randy Brown. The co-main sees Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett battle it out for Volk’s recently vacated UFC featherweight title. Oh and we get to see them act all tough in the face-offs, too.

On Friday night, the athletes competing on the UFC 284 fight card participated in the ceremonial weigh-in including Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev, ...

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Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett had a final faceoff at UFC 284 ceremonial weigh-ins, and only hours remain before they meet for interim gold.

Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Emmett (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) made the featherweight limit earlier in the day, then proceed to stare each other down for a final time. With champion Alexander Volkanovski occupied with a move up to lightweight in the main event, Rodriguez and Emmett will battle to see who gets the first shot upon his divisional return. [Yair Rodriguez](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/yair-rodriguez) and [Josh Emmett](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/josh-emmett) had their final pre-fight faceoff at [UFC 284](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/events/ufc-284) ceremonial weigh-ins, and now just hours remain before they fight for interim gold.

Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski, Yair Rodriguez, and Josh Emmett all successfully made weight for Saturday's title fights at UFC 284.

[Elise Reed](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5172/elise-reed) (115.5) [Shane Young](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4285/shane-young) (145.5) vs. [Don Shainis](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4066/don-shainis) (146) [Loma Lookboonmee](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4332/loma-lookboonmee) (115.5) vs. [Jamie Mullarkey](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5115/jamie-mullarkey) (155) vs. [Modestas Bukauskas](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5351/modestas-bukauskas) (206) [Joshua Culibao](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5316/joshua-culibao) (146) vs. ET) [Jack Jenkins](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6144/jack-jenkins) (145.5) vs. [Randy Brown](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3516/randy-brown) (171) [Justin Tafa](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5113/justin-tafa) (266) vs. [Blake Bilder](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6105/blake-bilder) (146) [Kleydson Rodrigues](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5798/kleydson-rodrigues) and lightweight [Zubaira Tukhugov](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2649/zubair-tuhugov-zubaira-tukhugov). ET) [Tyson Pedro](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3896/tyson-pedro) (206) vs. [Melsik Baghdasaryan](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5446/melsik-baghdasaryan) (146) 1 in the [MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings](https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/24/23567954/mma-pound-for-pound-rankings-jamahal-hill-rockets-into-top-20-after-ufc-title-win). [Jack Della Maddalena](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5772/jack-della-maddalena) (171) vs.

UFC returns to Australia for the first time tonight since 2019 and the UFC interim featherweight title will be contested. Islam Makhachev vs.

- Zubaira Tukhugov vs. - Shane Young vs. - Loma Lookboonmee vs. - Jack Jenkins vs. ET / 3 a.m. - Yair Rodriguez vs. ET / 5 a.m. - Jimmy Crute vs. Emmett cagewalks (approx): 12 a.m. - Justin Tafa vs. - Rodriguez vs. - Islam Makhachev vs.

Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu has branded Alexander Volkanovski “a beast” and predicted, together, the pair are set to become part of a global combat ...

“And No. “Because Alexander Volkanovski — beast,” Tszyu declared. we really are about to take over.” Despite being on a tear that currently stretches 10 years and 22 fights – and sat No. “People also don’t give enough credit to his size. If we don’t catch each other early I plan on going to war. Asked about the huge risk that is taking on Harrison, rather than waiting for Charlo to return from a broken hand suffered at Christmas, the boxer said: “I’m a fighter. “We’re bringing big fights to Australia, big names, and to have so many of us at that top level now … “And the greatest thing is, the Aussie fans are right behind us. “First on the scales and last on the card, which gives him 30-plus hours to rehydrate and refuel. “And obviously it’s a fact that it can get you chinny. Australian boxing star Tim Tszyu has branded Alexander Volkanovski “a beast” and predicted, together, the pair are set to become part of a global combat sports revolution.

In the main event, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will put his title on the line against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Makhachev ...

[Blake Bilder](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6105/blake-bilder) [Zubaira Tukhugov](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/2649/zubair-tuhugov-zubaira-tukhugov) vs. [Elise Reed](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5172/elise-reed) [Shane Young](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4285/shane-young) vs. [Don Shainis](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4066/don-shainis) [Loma Lookboonmee](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4332/loma-lookboonmee) vs. [Kleydson Rodrigues](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5798/kleydson-rodrigues) [Jamie Mullarkey](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5115/jamie-mullarkey) vs. [Melsik Baghdasaryan](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5446/melsik-baghdasaryan) [Shannon Ross](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6027/shannon-ross) vs. [Modestas Bukauskas](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5351/modestas-bukauskas) [Joshua Culibao](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/5316/joshua-culibao) vs. ET) [Jack Jenkins](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6144/jack-jenkins) vs. [Elves Brenner](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6209/elves-brenner) [Alonzo Menifield](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3432/alonzo-menifield) ET) [Tyson Pedro](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3896/tyson-pedro) vs. [Francisco Prado](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/6208/francisco-prado) [Islam Makhachev](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/3279/islam-makhachev) will put his title on the line against UFC featherweight champion [Alexander Volkanovski](https://www.mmafighting.com/fighter/4234/alexander-volkanovski).

'I was delusional': How Whittaker helped save 'scared' Aussie UFC prospect.

Or that I wasn’t at my best. “I was looking at how I wanted things to be rather than what was the truth.” Crute adds: “And when you look back at that fight, I was going after him from the get go. “I didn’t want to accept the fact that I needed surgery. “But I can look back to that fight now and go ‘OK that was fear’. Like Crute, the Reaper disappeared for an extended period as part of a reinvention that, once again, sees him ranked among the company most dangerous fighters. “I didn’t fight the way I should’ve and Hill was the better man. “And it wasn’t like I was scared of Jamahal. “So I really had to take a step back and fix some things.” “I was letting my ego get in the way. “Entering into that fight, I was a shell,” the Aussie revealed. “And I feel it’s going to be sooner than you might think.”

Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 13 scheduled matchups come face-to-face and view the photo gallery below. For more on the card, visit MMA ...

The weigh-ins took place at RAC Arena. [UFC 284](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/tag/ufc-284). [UFC 284](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/events/ufc-284) ceremonial fighter weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday’s event.

Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett had a final faceoff at UFC 284 ceremonial weigh-ins, and only hours remain before they meet for interim gold.

Join us tonight on Bloody Elbow for live results, discussion, and round by round scoring for UFC 284 from the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

The televised four-fight prelims will air on ESPN+ and big ESPN and will start at 8pm ET/5pm PT. About the author: Dayne Fox is a contributing writer and analyst for Bloody Elbow. There are four early prelims on ESPN+ and Fight Pass that will kick off around 6:00pm ET/3:00pm PT.

In the main event, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) puts his title on the line against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski (25-1 ...

The card's featured prelim will take place in the light heavyweight division when Tyson Pedro collides with Modestas Bukauskas. After four years on the ...

Lookboonmee went right to the takedown in the second round, and transitioned right to the back. It took about 30-seconds for Jenkins to take the back in the third round, but credit to Shainis for quickly getting back to his feet. Brener fought off of his back foot for most of the round, pawing with his jab and scoring with leg kicks. It was a pretty close round, but I’d have to give it to Young. Jenkins was controlling, but as he tried to take the back, Shainis was able to scramble out and up to his feet. The jab continued to be the foundation for Mullarkey in the third round. He was ripping punches to the head and the body, and even slipping in those leg kicks. Rodrigues hurt Ross to the body with a nasty liver kick, and then went in for the kill. Mullarkey escaped the bad position to end the match on the feet. Ross wilted from the onslaught, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight. Then, Baghdasaryan landed with a spinning back kick right to the cup. The round ended with a blitz from Bukauskas, leaving a strong impression on the judges.

See The Fight Results As They Happen, Watch Post-Fight Interviews With The Winners And More From RAC Arena In Perth, Western Australia.

[Official Scorecards](https://www.ufc.com/news/official-judges-scorecards-ufc-284-makhachev-vs-volkanovski) ](https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv?ex_cid=DSS-OFF-UFC-INARTICLE-EN) [Alexander Volkanovski](/athlete/alexander-volkanovski)(25-1, fighting out of Windang, NSW) will attempt to make history yet again by becoming the first Australian to reach double champ status [Watch On ESPN+](https://www.ufc.com/ppv) [Josh Emmett](/athlete/josh-emmett)(18-2, fighting out of Sacramento, CA), currently ranked No.5 UFC featherweight, has five straight wins and is coming off a split decision win over Calvin Kattar in June [Watch On ESPN+](https://www.ufc.com/ppv) [UFC 284: Makhachev vs Volkanovski](/event/ufc-284), live from RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. The Mexican-born striker has just one loss in his past five fights [Jack Jenkins](/athlete/jack-jenkins)(10-2, fighting out of Melbourne, Australia) will make his UFC debut after winning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this year. [Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski](/athlete/alexander-volkanovski) will take on newly crowned UFC lightweight champion, [Islam Makhachev](/athlete/islam-makhachev) in a five round championship bout. [Justin Tafa](/athlete/justin-tafa)(5-3, fighting out of Brisbane, Australia) will face American, [Parker Porter](/athlete/parker-porter)(13-7, fighting out of Hartford, Connecticut) [Watch On ESPN+](https://www.ufc.com/ppv) [Tyson Pedro](/athlete/tyson-pedro)(9-3, fighting out of Sydney, Australia) will take on [Modestas Bukauskas](/athlete/Modestas-Bukauskas)(13-5, fighting out of London, England by way of Klaipeda, Lithuania) [Watch On ESPN+](https://www.ufc.com/ppv) Jenkins will face [Don Shainis](/athlete/don-shainis)(12-4, fighting out of Stoughton, Massachusetts) at featherweight [Watch On ESPN+](https://www.ufc.com/ppv) [Loma Lookboonmee](/athlete/Loma-Lookboonmee)(7-2, fighting out of Phuket, Thailand) meets [Elise Reed](/athlete/elise-reed)(6-2, fighting out of Princeton, New Jersey) at strawweight [Watch On ESPN+](https://www.ufc.com/ppv)

Check out what the UFC 284 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday's event in Perth, Australia.

Can Alexander Volkanovski make UFC history, or will Islam Makhachev end the Aussie's momentum in front family and friends? The Sporting News will provide ...

ET ET GMT The Sporting News may earn an affiliate commission through our links when you sign up for a streaming service. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 284 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent. and Mexico on the Makhachev and Volkanovski should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. - Main card: 10 p.m. Makhachev holds the record for least absorbed strikes (0.95) in UFC history. The strike-happy Volkanovski faces a fighter in Makhachev who barely gets touched inside the octagon. He has done it all in the featherweight division and is looking to add to his nickname of “The Great." The fight will be in Volkanovski’s home of Australia, inside the RAC Arena. At UFC 284, two of the top fighters in MMA today face off for lightweight gold.

A champion vs. champion superfight tips the marquee on Saturday night inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

🏆— UFC (@ufc) In the closing moments of the fight, Menifield dropped Crute along the fence but Crute managed to survive the round by leaning on his wrestling. Bukauskas landed arguably the best combination of punches in the closing seconds of the fight and that may have been enough to swing him the round. Alonzo Meneifield ends in a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28). Menifield cracked Crute with a big punch and Crute hit the mat shortly after. Parker Porter is next up on the UFC 284 main card. The big boys are about to collide. Volkanovski marks not only a fight between the UFC lightweight and featherweight champions but also a fight between the No. The main card begins at 10 p.m. The Aussie challenges lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in his backyard at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia for this rare super fight. A champion vs. Maddalena has quickly become a cult favorite among the hardcore fanbase with first-round knockouts in all three of his UFC fights.

After that we move into the heavyweight division, where another Australian in Justin Tafa will tangle with another American in Parker Porter. Last up for this ...

He holds a 1-0 record in pro MMA and holds a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu. [#UFC284] [pic.twitter.com/t3UysokEP8] [February 12, 2023] [#UFC284] [pic.twitter.com/e3zQRP3zut] [February 12, 2023] [#UFC284] [pic.twitter.com/XB2ArOltEO] [February 12, 2023] The fight restarted in the same position, and Crute continued to force the grappling. Crute worked his way to his feet, but Menifield badly buckled him with a stiff straight. [#UFC284] [pic.twitter.com/oKbVGQKfvT] [February 12, 2023] [#UFC284] [pic.twitter.com/jODHStIHV0] [February 12, 2023] [#UFC284] [pic.twitter.com/0pli2RoH43] [February 12, 2023] He dropped Brown with a looping right hook that caused him to faceplant, and then pounced on him with ground strikes. Della Maddalena took the center of the Octagon right away, with Brown playing to the outside. Last up for this post we will be covering a welterweight match between Perth’s own Jack Della Maddalena, and his toughest test to date, ‘Rude Boy’ Randy Brown.

Alexander Volkanovski has a chance to become just the fifth double champ in UFC history Saturday night when he challenges lightweight titleholder Islam ...

A spinning back kick from Rodriguez misses but he lands a hard right hand to the head. I don't think a gassed Crute is going to have recovered with his legs back by the start of the second round. That was a round of two halves as Volkanovski took the first and Makhachev came on strong for the second. Now Makhachev staggers Volkanovski with a punch, dropping him to a knee. Another kick to the body followed by a compact right hand. He's grappling Volkanovski on the ground now, trying to stretch him out, take his back fully and threaten a submission. Volkanovski connects on a left hand to the head. Volkanovski pumps a jab from the back foot but Makhachev is stalking him and forward fighting with some pressure. Makhachev with a left moments later but Volkanovski advances and scores on a quick flurry. Makhachev grabs hold of a striking Volkanovski and takes him down. Volkanovski fires a few punches that land and now he takes stuffs a Makhachev takedown. Though Volkanovski would drop Makhachev a couple of times in the fight, he was never able to deliver additional, significant damage.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the ...

Imavov”](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/01/ufc-fight-night-217-venum-pay-promotional-guidelines-compliance-program-total)– $137,000 [UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/04/ufc-raises-promotional-guidelines-payouts-projects-1-million-increase-in-annual-distribution-to-fighters), which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). def. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000. Spivac”](https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2023/02/ufc-fight-night-218-venum-pay-promotional-guidelines-compliance-derrick-lewis-money-salary)– $136,000 [“UFC 283: Teixeira vs.

Makhachev has always been touted as Khabib 2.0, but his victory at UFC 284 didn't follow the blueprint.

[Max Holloway](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2614933/max-holloway) and one against [Jose Aldo](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2447641/jose-aldo). Makhachev was somewhat in control for most of the way, but Volkanovski was always in the fight. From here, Makhachev will look for his next lightweight challenge, and Volkanovski will head back to featherweight, the division he has ruled since 2019. He attempted nine takedowns and landed four, getting the fight to the canvas in all but the final round. And he used clinches to control stretches of the fight while standing. Even just symbolically, having the former champ not in his corner produced a tangible indication of how dissimilar a fighter Makhachev is from his longtime training partner. He was Volkanovski's equal for five high-level rounds of trading punches and kicks. So Nurmagomedov, who since retiring as a fighter had been coaching Makhachev, stepped to the microphone right after that UFC 280 main event and picked a fight. And when Makhachev had his hand raised after earning a unanimous decision, he stood front and center under the bright lights in Perth, Australia, with a group of coaches quietly applauding him from the shadows in the background. It wasn't a matter of Nurmagomedov trying to steal the spotlight. Last month, the former champ announced he was stepping away from coaching. The future had arrived for Makhachev that night, and his friend knew there was more to come -- if they made it happen.

The two pound-for-pound best in the world met at UFC 284, with Islam Makhachev taking home the bragging rights and the lightweight title.