Islam Makhachev KOs Alexander Volkanovski in the first in UFC 294 main event

21/10/2023 21:12

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was originally scheduled to take on former titleholder Charles Oliveira in the UFC 294 main event but Oliveira was forced out of the bout due to a nasty cut.

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski agreed to step in as a replacement on 12 days notice to rematch Makhachev.  The two first fought at UFC 284 in February.  Makhachev defeated Volkanovski via unanimous decision but the fight was extremely close.  

Makhachev landed first with an inside leg kick.  Volkanovski responded with a leg kick.  Makhachev looked for a takedown and Volkanovski shook it off.  Volkanovski engages in the clinch and Makhachev landed a knee.  Volkanovski backed away.  

Makhachev connected with a head kick and dropped Volkanovski.  He followed the featherweight champion to the ground and finished with punches.  

The official time of the stoppage was 3:06 of the first round.  It was the first time Volkanovski has been finished since 2013.