UFC 294

UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on October 21, 2023, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[2]

UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2
The poster for UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateOctober 21, 2023 (2023-10-21)
VenueEtihad Arena
CityAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
AttendanceNot announced[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Yusuff vs. Barboza UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis

Background

The event marked the promotion's 18th visit to Abu Dhabi and first since UFC 280 in October 2022.[2]

Makhachev (left) made his second title defense. In the rematch, Volkanovski (right) aspired to become the second man to be a simultaneous UFC featherweight and lightweight champion.

A UFC Lightweight Championship rematch between current champion Islam Makhachev and former champion Charles Oliveira was expected to headline the event.[3] The pair previously met at UFC 280 one year prior, where Makhachev captured the vacant title by second round submission.[4] However, Oliveira withdrew due to injury and was replaced by UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski.[5] This marked the first time that champions in different divisions rematch for the same title and the ninth time overall that champions in different divisions fought for the same title, following UFC 94, UFC 205, UFC 226, UFC 232, UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, UFC 259, UFC 277 and UFC 284, the latter event in which Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision.[6] If successful, Volkanovski would have become the fourth man to be champion in two divisions simultaneously and fifth fighter overall (after Conor McGregor at UFC 205, Daniel Cormier at UFC 226, Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 and UFC 277, and Henry Cejudo at UFC 238), as well as the eighth person overall to win a title in different divisions. Former KSW Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Mateusz Gamrot served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.[7]

A middleweight bout between Ikram Aliskerov and Nassourdine Imavov was expected to take place at the event.[8] However, Imavov withdrew due to visa issues and was replaced by The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 middleweight winner Warlley Alves.[9]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev was expected to take place at the event.[10] However, Costa withdrew after he underwent surgery on his elbow and was replaced by former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.[11] The fight served as a UFC Middleweight title eliminator.[12]

At the weigh-ins, Victoria Dudakova weighed in at 116.6 pounds, 0.6 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight limit. Mike Breeden weighed in at 159.5 pounds, three and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. Both of their bouts proceeded at catchweight with Dudakova being fined 20% of her purse and Breeden 30%, which went to their opponents former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Jinh Yu Frey and Road to UFC Season 1 lightweight tournament winner Anshul Jubli respectively.[13]

Results
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Islam Makhachev (c) def. Alexander Volkanovski KO (head kick and punches) 1 3:06 [lower-alpha 1]
Middleweight Khamzat Chimaev def. Kamaru Usman Decision (majority) (29–27, 29–27, 28–28) 3 5:00 [lower-alpha 2]
Light Heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker No Contest (illegal knee) 1 3:13 [lower-alpha 3]
Middleweight Ikram Aliskerov def. Warlley Alves TKO (flying knee and punches) 1 2:07
Bantamweight Said Nurmagomedov def. Muin Gafurov Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:13
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Flyweight Muhammad Mokaev def. Tim Elliott Submission (arm-triangle choke) 3 3:03
Lightweight Trevor Peek def. Mohammad Yahya Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Bantamweight Javid Basharat vs. Victor Henry No Contest (accidental groin kick) 2 0:15 [lower-alpha 4]
Middleweight Sedriques Dumas def. Abu Azaitar Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (159.5 lb) Mike Breeden def. Anshul Jubli KO (punches) 3 3:00
Featherweight Muhammad Naimov def. Nathaniel Wood Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (116.6 lb) Victoria Dudakova def. Jinh Yu Frey Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Shara Magomedov def. Bruno Silva Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
  1. For the UFC Lightweight Championship.
  2. UFC Middleweight title eliminator.
  3. An accidental illegal knee rendered Walker unable to continue.
  4. An accidental groin kick rendered Henry unable to continue.

[14]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[15]

  • Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded.
  • Performance of the Night: Islam Makhachev, Ikram Aliskerov, Said Nurmagomedov, and Muhammad Mokaev

See also

References
  1. Mike Bohn (2023-10-22). "UFC 294 post-event facts: Kamaru Usman hits uncharted territory with three-fight skid". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  2. Matt Erickson (2023-03-16). "UFC returns to Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21 with UFC 294". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  3. "UFC 294 gets Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira 2 as main event". UFC.
  4. Brent Brookhouse (2022-10-23). "UFC 280 results, highlights: Islam Makhachev submits Charles Oliveira to earn lightweight title". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  5. Damon Martin (2023-10-10). "Charles Oliveira out; Alexander Volkanovski now faces Islam Makhachev in UFC 294 main event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  6. Shakiel Mahjouri (2023-02-12). "UFC 284 results, highlights: Islam Makhachev edges past Alexander Volkanovski to retain lightweight title". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  7. Joshua Ryan (2023-10-07). "Mateusz Gamrot reportedly serves as backup fighter for Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira title bout". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  8. Harvey Leonard (2023-07-20). "Ikram Aliskerov Rebooked Following Failed Paulo Costa Fight, Faces Nassourdine Imavov At UFC 294". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  9. Staff (2023-10-07). "UFC 294: Nassourdine Imavov out, Warlley Alves faces Ikram Aliskerov". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  10. Shaun Al-Shatti (2023-07-19). "Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira 2, Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa announced for UFC 294". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  11. Damon Martin (2023-10-11). "With Paulo Costa out, Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev booked as new UFC 294 co-main event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  12. Nolan King (2023-10-12). "Dana White: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 will be title eliminator". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  13. Staff (2023-10-20). "UFC 294 weigh-in results: Two fighters miss their marks in Abu Dhabi". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  14. "UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  15. Chris Taylor (2023-10-21). "UFC 294 Bonus Report: Islam Makhachev one of four fighters to take home an extra $50k". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
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