Islam Makhachev News

Zain Bando - October 19, 2023

Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was back for another edition of “Blessed Breakdowns,” as he previewed UFC 294, taking place Saturday morning (in the United States), which will be live from Abu Dhabi. The main event features the highly-anticipated rematch between current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.

Cole Shelton - October 19, 2023

Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev had a heated back-and-forth over rehydration during the UFC 294 press conference. Volkanovski and Makhachev fought back in February in Australia and after the fight, Dan Hooker accused the lightweight champ of using an IV to rehydrate. Although it has never been proven, ahead of UFC 294, Makhachev claims having 40 hours to rehydrate before this fight will be a difference in his power.

Josh Evanoff - October 18, 2023

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has responded to Islam Makhachev. The lightweight titleholder is set to return to the cage this Saturday night at UFC 294. Back for the first time since February, Islam Makhachev will again face Alexander Volkanovski. At media day earlier this week, the lightweight champion took a bit of a shot at Jon Jones.

Cole Shelton - October 18, 2023

Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t think Islam Makhachev would have stepped up on short notice like he did. Makhachev was supposed to headline UFC 294 in a rematch against Charles Oliveira this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. However, less than two weeks out from the fight, Oliveira was forced out of the bout due to an injury. Volkanovski ended up stepping up to rematch Makhachev on 12 days’ notice.

Cole Shelton - October 17, 2023

In the main event of UFC 294, Islam Makhachev is looking to defend his lightweight title for the second time as he rematches Alexander Volkanovski. Heading into the fight, Makhachev is a -265 favorite while the featherweight champ is a +200 underdog on FanDuel. Ahead of the fight, which was made on less than two weeks’ notice, BJPENN.com reached out to pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros are actually leaning toward Volkanovski pulling off the upset, despite taking it on short notice.

Harry Kettle - October 17, 2023

Dan Hardy believes Islam Makhachev has a clearer path to victory against Alexander Volkanovski than against Charles Oliveira. On Saturday night, Islam Makhachev will defend the UFC lightweight championship against Alexander Volkanovski for the second time. He should’ve been going up against Charles Oliveira, but ‘Do Bronx’ was forced to pull out as a result of a cut sustained in training.

Josh Evanoff - October 16, 2023

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski believes he’ll finish Islam Makhachev on Saturday. ‘The Great’ is in a position that he didn’t expect him to be in. Last defeating Yair Rodriguez in July, Alexander Volkanovski was reportedly expected to face Ilia Topuria in January. However, due to an injury to Charles Oliveira, he will step in on short notice to face Islam Makhachev this weekend.

Fernando Quiles - October 15, 2023

UFC featherweight titleholder Alex Volkanovski has his plans set for the short-notice rematch against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Volkanovski stepped up to the plate after Charles Oliveira was pulled from a planned championship rematch with Makhachev at UFC 294. Oliveira suffered a nasty cut on his eyebrow during a sparring session. The cut was bad enough that “do Bronx” wasn’t cleared to fight in Abu Dhabi.

Harry Kettle - October 13, 2023

Islam Makhachev’s head coach Javier Mendez has given his thoughts on what Alexander Volkanovski may do differently at UFC 294. Next weekend, on short notice, Alexander Volkanovski will step in for the injured Charles Oliveira and challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship. It will serve as his second attempt at claiming Makhachev’s belt following a close decision defeat earlier this year.

Cole Shelton - October 11, 2023

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi next Saturday for UFC 294 and the card has changed quite a bit, but Islam Makhachev will remain atop the bill. Makhachev was originally supposed to defend his lightweight title at UFC 294 in a rematch against Charles Oliveira. The co-main event was supposed to be a middleweight fight between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev. However, in the past 24 hours, it was revealed that Makhachev will now be rematching Alexander Volkanovski in the main event for the lightweight title. Also, in the co-main event, Kamaru Usman has replaced Paulo Costa and will now face Khamzat Chimaev.

Susan Cox - October 11, 2023

Khabib Nurmagomedov is reacting after Alex Volkanovski accepted a short notice rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. It was to have been Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA) vs Charles Oliveira (34-9 MMA) in a lightweight title bout on Saturday October 21st at UFC 294, which takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Susan Cox - October 11, 2023

Islam Makhachev is reacting to Alexander Volkanovski replacing Charles Oliveira at UFC 294. UFC 294 takes place on Saturday October 21st at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Harry Kettle - October 9, 2023

The official main card lineup has been released for UFC 294 later this month, with the main event being Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira 2. Later this month, the Ultimate Fighting Championship will be making its return to Abu Dhabi. For the second straight year, the man event will see Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev clash for the UFC lightweight title. This time around, though, it will be Makhachev who is defending after he was able to beat ‘Do Bronx’ for the strap twelve months ago. Since then, both men have won one contest – against Alexander Volkanovski and Beneil Dariush respectively.

Fernando Quiles - October 8, 2023

Mateusz Gamrot might just be fighting for a UFC title if initial plans go awry. The main event of UFC 294 will feature a rematch for the UFC Lightweight Championship. It’ll be titleholder Islam Makhachev putting his gold at stake against Charles Oliveira. Around this time last year, Makhachev submitted Oliveira in the second round to capture UFC gold. While the UFC has its plan set for October 21, plans can change.

Harry Kettle - October 6, 2023

UFC fighter Colby Covington has given his thoughts on Islam Makhachev teasing a move up to welterweight. Later this year, Colby Covington will challenge Leon Edwards as he attempts to finally become the undisputed UFC welterweight champion. In just a few weeks, however, Islam Makhachev will try and keep hold of his lightweight title when he locks horns with Charles Oliveira.

Harry Kettle - October 6, 2023

Justin Gaethje is reportedly being lined up next for Islam Makhachev if the latter is able to get past Charles Oliveira again. This year has been a pretty good one for Justin Gaethje, to put it lightly. ‘The Highlight’ has beaten Rafael Fiziev and Dustin Poirier, and in the latter of those two wins, he won via knockout to claim the BMF title. Gaethje has always been an action fighter and someone who is willing to risk it all, but on the two occasions he’s fought for the UFC lightweight championship, he’s come up short against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.

Susan Cox - October 3, 2023

Michael Bisping is sharing some advice for Charles Oliveira ahead of his rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. UFC 294 takes place on Saturday, October 21st at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Headlining the event is a lightweight title fight between current champion Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA) and Charles Oliveira (34-9 MMA).

Josh Evanoff - October 2, 2023

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has responded to Charles Oliveira. The two are currently set to rematch at UFC 294 later this month, in Abu Dhabi. The fight takes place just a year after their first fight at UFC 280. Last October, Islam Makhachev scored a second-round submission win over Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight gold.