UFC 294 HIGHLIGHTS and results: Makhachev knocks out Volkanovski to retain lightweight title; Chimaev beats Usman in co-main event

And that will be the end of tonight’s event. However, we will be extensively covering all things UFC. So, keep a tab on our website to stay updated with the world of UFC and MMA.

And the moment is here. Volkanovski is the first to enter the ring as he is welcomed with huge cheers from the Abu Dhabi crowd. Makhachev is in next. With 12 consecutive wins, Makhachev has the longest active win streak in UFC. Can he make it 13 or will Volkanovski get his revenge? We’ll have to wait a bit more to know that.

The last time when these two faced each other earlier in February this year, Makhachev won the bout by unanimous decision

Round 1: Aaaand we are underway! Measured movements from both of them as the fight gets off to a sedate start amid a crowd that’s behind Makhachev. After a low left leg kick from Makhachev, Volk grapples him and pins him to a corner. Big connection from the Russian as he gets a left arm jab. WOW THAT WAS QUICK! MAKHACHEV CATCHES VOLK OFF GUARD WITH A KICK AND FOLLOWS IT UP WITH CONSECUTIVE STRIKES TO MAKE KNOCK HIS OPPONENT OUT! Stamp of authority from the Russian as he continues his unbeaten streak to retain his lightweight belt! Celebrates with a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque ‘Calma Calma’

“I won’t celebrate this win because of what’s happening in Palestine,” says Makhachev after the fight. What a gesture!

The wait is almost over. Islam Makhachev’s lightweight belt will be on the line when he takes on Alexander Volkanovski in the main event. Expect a blockbuster of a fight!

In the co-main event, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (20-3) takes on Khamzat Chimaev (12-0) in a middleweight bout. The bout heats up even before commencement of the fight as both the fighters headbut each other.

Round 1: Chimaev tests Usman right away as he initiates a takedown but is unable to complete it. However, Chimaev pushes his opponent down and gets back control. He spices things up with consecutive punches to Usman’s head. Usman manages to standup with Chimaev on his back and smacks the Swede down catching him by surprise. All that Usman can manage is to fend of the attacks thrown by Chimaev. The latter is trying his best to take his game to the second round and he does it successfully. Round 1 comes to an end

Round 2: Usman still looks dazed from the damage he sustained in the previous round. Both grapplers take their time to settle down, exchanging body kicks. Chimaev tries to land a powerful shot to Usman’s chest but the American reciprocates with a lock of his own. As he tries to topple Chimaev, the referee brings down the curtains for round 2

Round 3: Chimaev attempts a takedown right off the bat but Usman anticipates it and moves out of the way as the Swede loses his balance and falls down. Usman with a superb left hand jab, Chimaev takes that and gives back a devastating hook of his own. Usman gathers all his power and inflicts consecutive punches to Chimaev. The latter finally gets what he needed and locks both of Usman’s legs and takes him down. Usman is pinned down properly and is struggling to even move his hands. Back-to-back swings and misses from both fighters and with that, the fight comes to an end. A tremendous show from both of them. On to the judges now but it looks like Chimaev might edge past his opponent and that is what exactly has happened. CHIMAEV WINS THE BOUT BY MAJORITY DECISION as he imporves his record to 13-0

Up next, No. 2 ranked light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1) clashes with No. 7 ranked contender Johnny Walker (21-7l). Walker has the height as well as reach advantage in the fight

Round 1: Ankalaev starts off explosively with a couple of powerful jabs to Walker’s face. Follows it up with a brilliant body shot that stuns Walker. The latter attempts a flying knee kick but fails and Ankalaev capitalises to pin Walker to a corner. Ankalaev, with Walker pinned towards the cage, dishes out an illegal knee shot to the Brazilian’s jawline. The official interupts and opts for a timeout to check for concussion. Confusion in the middle! Walker says he’s okay to fight to the doctor but the doctor comes towards Ankalaev and says his opponent cannot fight! That seems like a translation error, embarrassing

BOUT IS DECLARED A NO CONTEST upon doctor’s advice!

Said Nurmagomedov took just over a minute to finish the fight against Main Gaufurov via submission in the bantamweight bout.

Shortly after in the middleweight bout, Ikram Aliskerov registered yet another first-round win after he defeated Warlley Alves via strikes. The Russian caught the Brazilian off guard with a flying knee kick and followed it up with back-to-back jabs to take home a well-deserved win

Trevor Peek def. Mohammad Yahya via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

Javid Basharat vs. Victor Henry is no-contest (groin shot) (R2, 0:15)

Sedriques Dumas def. Abu Azaitar via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Mike Breeden def. Anshul Jubli via third-round KO (3:00)

Muhammad Naimov def. Nathaniel Wood via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Viktoriya Dudakova def. Jinh Yu Frey via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Shara Magomedov def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

The UFC(Ultimate Fighting Championship) 294 main event features a highly anticipated rematch for the UFC lightweight title with Islam Makhachev defending his title against Alexander Volkanovski for a second consecutive fight.

Makhachev claimed the title with a second-round submission win over Charles Oliveira last October in Abu Dhabi, running through the Brazilian in alarmingly swift and dominant fashion. Following the bout, he called out Volkanovski, agreeing to face the Australian on his home turf in Perth in February.

The two engaged in arguably the best fight of the year at UFC 284, with Makhachev retaining his title in an ultra-competitive fight where the lightweight champ was forced to hang on for dear life down the stretch as the indefatigable featherweight boss refused to slow down.

While Makhachev has been biding his time, waiting for his next challenger to emerge since emerging victorious in February, the 35-year-old Volkanovski returned to featherweight and put on an absolute clinic against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July to further cement his standing as the best fighter in the division and quite possibly the best fighter on the planet.

This was a fascinating matchup the first time around and it’s even more compelling now, as Volkanovski has shown an incredible ability to make adjustments during and between fights, while Makhachev is now fully aware of what he’s going to be dealing with on October 20 when they meet for a second time.

Volkanovski’s willingness to take a fight of this magnitude, with this much at stake, on less than two weeks’ notice speaks to his incredible focus, work ethic, and self-belief, but the lightweight champion also deserves a ton of praise for welcoming a rematch with the talented featherweight kingpin under challenging circumstances, as well.

Both men are true fighting champions, and just as their first meeting was a thrilling way to wrap UFC 284 earlier this year, the rematch is sure to do the same at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

-UFC

India’s Anshul Jubli lost to Mike Breeden of the United States on his UFC debut. Click the link below to check out the highlights of early preliminaries:

UFC 294 Prelims HIGHLIGHTS: India’s Jubli loses vs Mike Breeden on debut; results

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of UFC 294 early preliminary fights, where India’s Anshul Jubli takes on Mike Breeden of United States in lightweight division at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. 

UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski will be telecast live on Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) & Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels with the pre-show starting at 7:30 PM IST. The event can also be streamed live on the Sony LIV app/website