Makhachev vs Volkanovski II

Who won Makhachev vs Volkanovski II?

Islam Makhachev beat Alexander Volkanovski by knockout in the 1st round during the main event of UFC 294, on Saturday 21st October 2023 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 5 rounds in the Lightweight division, which meant the weight limit was 155 pounds (11.1 stone or 70.3 KG).

This contest was for the UFC Lightweight championship.

Makhachev vs Volkanovski II stats

Islam Makhachev stepped into the octagon with a record of 24 wins, 1 loss and 0 draws, 4 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 11 by submission.

Alexander Volkanovski made his way to the cage with a record of 26 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws, 13 of those wins coming by knock out and 3 by submission.

This was Islam Makhachev's 17th fight in the UFC, having made his debut for the promotion in 2015. Alexander Volkanovski marked his 17th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2016.

Islam Makhachev's UFC record stood at 16-1-0, while Alexander Volkanovski's came in at 14-3-0.

The stats suggested Volkanovski had a massive power advantage over Makhachev, boasting a 50% knock out percentage over Makhachev's 17%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Makhachev had a massive advantage over Volkanovski, boasting a 46% submission rate over Volkanovski's 12%.

Islam Makhachev was the younger man by 3 years, at 33 years old.

Makhachev had a height advantage of 4 inches over Volkanovski. Despite this, Volkanovski had a 2-inch reach advantage.

Makhachev was arguably the less experienced fighter, having had 3 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2010, 1 year and 9 months earlier than Volkanovski, whose first professional fight was in 2012. He had fought 27 less professional rounds, 60 to Volkanovski's 87.

Makhachev vs Volkanovski II form

Makhachev had won all 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 1 opponent and going to the judges 4 times.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 on 11th February 2023 by unanimous decision in their UFC Lightweight championship fight at RAC Arena, Perth, Western Australia.

Previous to that, he had beaten Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 on 22nd October 2022 by submission in the 2nd round in their UFC Lightweight championship fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Going into that contest, he had defeated Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night on 26th February 2022 by knockout in the 1st round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.

Before that, he was victorious against Dan Hooker at UFC 267 on 30th October 2021 by submission in the 1st round.

He had won against Thiago Moises at UFC Vegas 31 on 17th July 2021 by submission in the 4th round at UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.

Volkanovski had beaten 2 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 on 17th February 2024 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Featherweight championship fight at Honda Center, Anaheim, United States.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 on 21st October 2023 by knockout in the 1st round in their UFC Lightweight championship fight at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 on 8th July 2023 by knockout in the 3rd round in their UFC Featherweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Before that, he had been defeated by Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 on 11th February 2023 by unanimous decision in their UFC Lightweight championship fight at RAC Arena, Perth, Western Australia.

He had defeated Max Holloway at UFC 276 on 2nd July 2022 by unanimous decision in their UFC Featherweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Alexander Volkanovski had been fighting more than Islam Makhachev.

Going to this contest, Islam Makhachev had last fought 2 years, 2 months and 23 days ago, while Alexander Volkanovski's last outing had been 1 year, 2 months and 17 days ago.

Makhachev's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 9 months and 17 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 9 months and 4 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 13 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.6 rounds on average.

Volkanovski's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 10 months and 2 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 6 months and 26 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 16 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.2 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Makhachev vs Volkanovski II?

Islam Makhachev was a 2/5 (-250) favourite going into the contest, while Alexander Volkanovski made his way into the ring at 2/1 (+200) with oddsmakers.