Islam Makhachev survives acid test against Volkanovski, retains UFC lightweight title

UFC lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev made a successful defense of his world title following a hard-fought unanimous decision nod over UFC featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski this Sunday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

THE NEW P4P #1 IN THE WORLD!! ????@MakhachevMMA has defeated Alex Volkanovski by unanimous decision! #UFC284 pic.twitter.com/zpqyy7HKZ6

— UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2023

Both fighters landed strikes of their own before Makhachev took the fight to the ground where he attempted a choke but was unable to force a tap.

Volkanovski dropped Makhachev with a punch in round two, but the latter saw it as an opening to wrestle. They soon got back to their feet where Makhachev rocked the hometown favorite with a left straight.

Makhachev took the fight to the ground again after a few exchanges of strikes in round three but was unable to keep Volkanovski there. A perfectly-timed takedown from Makhachev saw the fight on the ground again in round 4.

Volkanovski defended well from the choke attempt even while having his foe on his back. He then turned up the pace in the final round but was getting countered until a right hand in the dying minute rocked Makhachev to which Volkanovski followed up with ground and pound.

All three judges saw the fight for Makhachev after five five-minute rounds. The scorecards were 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, improving the champion’s record to 24-1 while Volkanovski had his first defeat in the UFC as he dropped to 25-2.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News