UFC 294: Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski to keep lightweight title

Makhachev celebrates beating Volkanovski in his defence of his UFC lightweight title

Islam Makhachev knocked out Alexander Volkanovski in the first round to retain his lightweight title at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

Russia's Makhachev, 31, dropped Volkanovski, 35, with a left high kick, causing the referee to stop the fight.

The win concludes the pair's rivalry after Makhachev's narrow win in February.

It also all but ends Australian featherweight champion Volkanovski's hopes of winning a second title.

Volkanovski took the fight against Makhachev on 12 days' notice after Brazil's Charles Oliveria pulled out injured.

"Thank you to Volkanovski. You have to turn out the lights to beat this guy," said Makhachev.

"He will never give up. He will fight all five rounds, he is a real champion."

In the middleweight co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev beat Kamaru Usman by majority decision in a compelling contest.

Chechen-born Chimaev got the better of the grappling exchanges between the pair and is now in prime position to challenge middleweight champion Sean Strickland for the title.

In his post-fight interview, Chimaev, along with a number of others fighters, called for peace and an end to the violence in the Israel-Gaza war.

Makhachev emphatically closes Volkanovski rivalry

Makhachev and Volkanovski's fight in February divided opinion among critics, with some believing Volkanovski should have declared the winner following a back-and-forth contest.

The Russian said pre-fight there was no pressure on Volkanovski and he had taken the fight solely "for money" but the Australian argued there was pressure because the fight could represent his last chance at winning a second UFC title.

There have only been four simultaneous double champions in UFC history, including Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo, with Volkanovski wanting to become the fifth to elevate his legacy among the all-time pound-for-pound greats.

But in Makhachev, Volkanovski was facing the only person to have beaten him in 14 UFC fights with the Russian having won 12 consecutive bouts.

Makhachev adopted a kicking approach in the early stages, landing to the legs and body, before the pair wrestled against the cage.

Volkanovski avoided a takedown, but took a number of knees from Makhachev as the fighters clinched.

The fight-ending moment would come shortly after their separation as Makhachev landed a left high kick, causing a stunned Volkanovski to fall, before following up with punches as the referee stepped in to stop the contest.

Imposing Chimaev impresses again

Chimaev has won all 13 fights of his professional career

Like Volkanovski, Usman was a late replacement for the bout with Chimaev after replacing the injured Paulo Costa.

The middleweight bout represented the 36-year-old's first since failing to regain the welterweight title against Leon Edwards in March, with Usman saying fighting Chimaev was a chance for him to "soul search".

The unbeaten Chimaev, 29, has forged a fearsome reputation since making his UFC debut in 2020, winning all six fights with five finishes.

And Chimaev carried his momentum into the Usman fight as he shot for a takedown early in the bout and completed it, outwrestling him throughout the round unlike any previous opponent in the UFC has been able to do.

The second round saw Usman settle into the contest more as he kept the fight on the feet while landing a clean one-two, and he found more success in the third, stopping multiple takedowns and landing consistently with his jab and left hook.

Chimaev secured another takedown halfway through the third, before Usman got to his feet, with the gripping contest ending with both fighters swinging punches.

Following the bout, UFC president Dana White thanked Usman for stepping in on short notice, while Chimaev earns the opportunity to face Strickland for the title.

Britain's Mokaev continues winning streak

On the prelims, Britain's Muhammad Mokaev submitted American Tim Elliott in their flyweight bout, extending the unbeaten start to his career to 12.

After a competitive two rounds, Mokaev, 23, secured an arm triangle in the third, causing former title challenger Elliott, 36, to tap out.

Mokaev escaped a number of submission attempts during the bout and swung momentum in his favour with two eye-catching slams.

The victory is Mokaev's fifth, with four finishes, since making his UFC debut last March, and moves him closer towards his goal of winning the title.

Elsewhere on the undercard, fellow Briton Nathaniel Wood suffered a unanimous decision defeat against Tajikistan's Muhammad Naimov.

The loss ends 30-year-old Wood's three-fight win streak since moving up to featherweight.