UFC 294

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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

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]

Background[edit]

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]

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.[12]

Results[edit]

Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Islam Makhachev (c) def. Alexander Volkanovski KO (head kick and punches) 1 3:06 [a]
Middleweight Khamzat Chimaev def. Kamaru Usman Decision (majority) (29–27, 29–27, 28–28) 3 5:00 [b]
Light Heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker No Contest (illegal knee) 1 3:13 [c]
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 [d]
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 Sharabutdin 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.

[13]

Bonus awards[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[14]

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

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bohn, Mike (October 22, 2023). "UFC 294 post-event facts: Kamaru Usman hits uncharted territory with three-fight skid". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Erickson, Matt (March 16, 2023). "UFC returns to Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21 with UFC 294". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  3. ^ King, Nolan (July 19, 2023). "UFC 294 gets Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira 2 as main event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Brookhouse, Brent (October 23, 2022). "UFC 280 results, highlights: Islam Makhachev submits Charles Oliveira to earn lightweight title". cbssports.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  5. ^ Martin, Damon (October 10, 2023). "Charles Oliveira out; Alexander Volkanovski now faces Islam Makhachev in UFC 294 main event". mmafighting.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Mahjouri, Shakiel (February 12, 2023). "UFC 284 results, highlights: Islam Makhachev edges past Alexander Volkanovski to retain lightweight title". cbssports.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Ryan, Joshua (October 7, 2023). "Mateusz Gamrot reportedly serves as backup fighter for Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira title bout". mmaweekly.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Leonard, Harvey (July 20, 2023). "Ikram Aliskerov Rebooked Following Failed Paulo Costa Fight, Faces Nassourdine Imavov At UFC 294". mmanews.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  9. ^ "UFC 294: Nassourdine Imavov out, Warlley Alves faces Ikram Aliskerov". itnwwe.com. October 7, 2023. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (July 19, 2023). "Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira 2, Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa announced for UFC 294". mmafighting.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Martin, Damon (October 11, 2023). "With Paulo Costa out, Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev booked as new UFC 294 co-main event". mmafighting.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "UFC 294 weigh-in results: Two fighters miss their marks in Abu Dhabi". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. October 20, 2023. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  13. ^ "UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2". UFC. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  14. ^ Taylor, Chris (October 21, 2023). "UFC 294 Bonus Report: Islam Makhachev one of four fighters to take home an extra $50k". bjpenn.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
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