Two injury-related cancellations are shaking up the two main fights at UFC 294, but the MMA organizer is finding a well-known replacement. However, there is no big surprise in the end.
Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi and silenced his critics. The 31-year-old MMA fighter defeated challenger and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski by TKO in round one.
The injury to the Brazilian Charles Oliveira made it possible for the two champions to meet again. For Volkanovski it was probably the last chance to become the organization’s double champion and thus rise to the level of greats like Conor McGregor. The first meeting was won by opponent Makhachev on points, but many experts saw Volkanovski ahead. The Australian went into the fight with the heavier Russian with around twelve days of preparation, but there was no sign of a lack of preparation.
Both fighters initially sought the right distance in the first round before the Russian switched to the clinch. There he was able to attack the Australian, who was able to free himself from the clinch. Makhachev then launched a powerful head kick that slipped over Volkanovski’s guard and hit the 36-year-old hard in the head. Volkanovski went down and Makhachev followed up briefly before the referee intervened and declared the fight over.
Chimaev remains undefeated
The co-main event featured rising superstar Khamzat Chimaev and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. And Chimaev started like a fire engine. After a few seconds he went for a takedown and was able to quickly take Usman down. On the ground, the Chechnya-born Swede remained in control the entire round, but was unable to apply a submission hold. He abused his 36-year-old opponent with punches.
The second round remained standing for four minutes because Usman himself repeatedly faked the takedown and had the clean hits while striking. Chimaev finally brought his opponent to the ground again, but was then unable to exude dominance or land any hits. Usman started the third round cleverly. Despite only eleven days of preparation for the fight – the Brazilian Paulo Costa was actually supposed to fight against Chimaev – he showed no fatigue, fended off the takedown attempts and scored clean hits. Chimaev was still able to switch back to the ground fight two minutes before the end and remained in control there. In the end, the 29-year-old won after a majority decision. Two of the three referees scored the fight a draw, one for Chimaev.
Chaos decision for Ankalaev against Walker
The duel between the two light heavyweights Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker was intended to crystallize a possible challenger for the vacant title in the weight class. After a slight touch in the first minute, Ankalaev went for a takedown, which the Russian was able to get through. In the ground clinch on the cage, Ankalaev then goes for a knee strike, a forbidden action in this constellation.
The ring doctor then unexpectedly stopped the fight because Walker suffered a cut above his eye. The fighters’ lack of understanding resulted in a scuffle between fighters and the referee – total chaos until UFC boss Dana White came into the ring to calm the situation. The fight ended without a score because the knee strike was ruled unintentional.
Lightweight: Islam Makhachev (c) defeated Alexander Volkanovski by TKO in round one.
Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev defeats Kamaru Usman by majority decision.
Light heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker ends without a score.
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskervov defeated Warlley Alves by TKO in round 1.
Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov defeated Muin Gafurov by submission in round 1.