Alexander Volkanovski has already proven himself one of the best — if not the best — of all time in the featherweight division.
Now it is time for the Australian UFC superstar to go for double champ status once more to further establish his position in the promotion’s record books.
On Sunday, Volkanovski gets his much-anticipated rematch against lightweight king Islam Makhachev — even if it comes in unconventional fashion.
Volkanovski will be fighting on just 11 days notice, while Makhachev of course was also forced to change tack after weeks preparing for Charles Oliveira.
UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2 | SUN 22nd OCT 5AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
Islam & Volk face off ahead of rematch | 01:47
Oliveira suffered a nasty gash on his eyebrow during sparring, forcing him to pull out and the UFC to scramble for a last-minute replacement.
Mateusz Gamrot was the official backup fighter for the event but Volkanovski stepped up instead in what potentially shapes as an even more intriguing bout that the initially scheduled one with Oliveira.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the week at media day, Volkanovski stressed he was still targeting a featherweight title defence against Ilia Topuria in January.
“That’s why I wanted to make a point of this whole, I can keep two divisions busy,” Volkanovski said.
“That was a goal of mine. I’ve been saying it for a while. I want to do that. I understand what they want to do. They’re like, ‘Come on, we don’t want to hold two divisions.’ But I think I’ve proven that I wouldn’t.
“Obviously, I want to do January. I want to come out here, be double champ and keep two divisions busy. I don’t know when Gaethje is looking to get back in there, but there’s obviously a lot of exciting fights at lightweight.
“We’ll see what happens, but I do want to keep two divisions busy.”
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about UFC 294
START TIME: What time does UFC 294 start in Australia?
Volk question puts Hasbulla on the spot | 00:50
Volkanovski put up an admirable fight in his first shot at Makhachev and the lightweight crown, going down in a unanimous decision defeat.
That fight took place in Australia though, with Makhachev telling reporters earlier this week “everything is now on my side”.
“Honestly, after the first fight, many people talking about the fight, and many people want to watch this rematch,” Makhachev said.
“I’m really happy because right now, they can give me anyone, but I’m really happy because they gave me Volkanovski. Because last time I fought in his arena, his area, but now it’s Abu Dhabi, and everything is now on my side.”
Elsewhere, there was chaos in the co-main event too with Paulo Costa pulling out of his fight with Khamzat Chimaev due to a gruesome elbow infection.
It doesn’t get any easier for Chimaev though, who now takes on Kamaru Usman.
The former UFC welterweight champion is coming off back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards and is making the jump up to middleweight for his debut in the weight class.
The fight determines No.1 contender status in the middleweight division, with champion Sean Strickland in waiting after former title holder Israel Adesanya announced he would be taking an extended break.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Islam Makhachev
Age: 31
Record: 24-1
Height: 178cm
Reach: 179cm
Leg reach: 103cm
Alexander Volkanovski
Age: 35
Record: 26-2
Height: 168cm
Reach: 182cm
Leg reach: 91cm
‘Is that really what we’re relying on’ | 01:07
FULL UFC 294 CARD (ALL TIMES AEDT)
Main Card (from 5am AEDT)
Islam Makhachev (c) vs Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC lightweight title
Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev — middleweight
Magomed Ankalaev vs Johnny Walker — light heavyweight
Ikram Aliskerov vs Warlley Alves — middleweight
Said Nurmagomedov vs Muin Gafurov — bantamweight
Prelims (from 1am AEDT)
Tim Elliott vs Muhammad Mokaev — flyweight
Mohammad Yahya vs Trevor Peek — lightweight
Javid Basharat vs Victor Henry — bantamweight
Abu Azaitar vs Sedriques Dumas — middleweight
Mike Breeden vs Anshul Jubli — lightweight
Nathaniel Wood vs Muhammad Naimov — featherweight
Viktoriia Dudakova vs Jinh Yu Frey — women’s strawweight
Shara Magomedov vs Bruno Silva — middleweight
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