UFC 284 – Makhachev VS Volkanovski Preview

As part of its ongoing global tour, the UFC makes a stop in Perth, Australia for UFC 284, whose main event is one of the best in recent memory. Against Alexander Volkanovski (25-1, 12-0 UFC), the featherweight champion of the UFC who wants a shot at double-champion status, Islam Makhachev (23-1, 12-1 UFC) will make his first defense of the lightweight championship.

Preliminaries begin the card on February 11 at 6 p.m. ET, and the main card starts at 10 p.m. ET. The fixture is a major one which will attract viewers from all over the world, and bettors are no exception. While a lot of people love to watch UFC fights, there is also the opportunity of making money by placing bets on them. By using these apps to bet on the UFC, this can be accomplished, and there are a lot of options to pick from.

What are Makhachev’s chances of retaining his title?

Islam Makhachev, the recently crowned UFC lightweight champion, will enter the ring at Perth’s RAC Arena and make his first-ever title defense effort in a little over ten days. The world championship for best pound-for-pound fighter will also be at stake in the main event, in addition to Makhachev’s 155-pound belt. The Australian UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is now ranked as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, but the Dagestani-born fighter will be aiming to overtake him.

What are Volkanovski’s chances of winning the fight?

Volkanovski will be seeking to establish himself as the brand’s top male fighter by winning the title of two-weight world champion with the help of his enthusiastic home crowd. Since taking Max Holloway’s belt in 2019, the 34-year-old has ruled the featherweight category. To test himself against the opponent who is listed just behind him in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, he is increasing his weight.

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How is the fixture expected to play out?

Makhachev is unfazed by the idea of facing Volkanovski in front of a hostile Australian home crowd, despite traveling to unfriendly territory to face an opponent who is unbeaten (12-0) in the UFC. Makhachev, who is 178 cm tall and weighs 70 kg, is taking a big chance by facing Volkanovski in his maiden championship defense, but he believes that his height advantage will be too much for the Australian, who is 168 cm tall and typically weighs 66 kg.

Islam, who is 12-1 in the UFC and is presently on an 11-fight winning streak, most recently defeated former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in October, a victory that earned him the 155-pound title. While Volkanovski enters this eagerly anticipated matchup unbeaten in the UFC and riding a 12-fight winning streak of his own, Makhachev is certain that he will not only continue his unbeaten streak but also do it in the same dominant manner as his prior fights.

Makhachev has used submissions to win in the UFC on half of his occasions. However, Volkanovski is renowned for being difficult to finish off on the ground, as seen by his capacity to fend off not just one but two risky submission attempts by 1st degree BJJ black belt Brian Ortega during the third round of their championship 2021 title battle. Despite this, the lightweight champion is unwavering in his conviction that he can eliminate his Australian foe.

Islam’s well-known assurance and aggressive demeanor will not change before this history-making fight the following weekend, but the same cannot be said for the composition of his coaching staff, as former lightweight champion and UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov will be conspicuously absent due to his recent announcement to leave coaching.