UFC 284 results: Islam Makhachev defeats Alex Volkanovski in thrilling champ vs. champ clash

Tom Naghten

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UFC 284 results: Islam Makhachev defeats Alex Volkanovski in thrilling champ vs. champ clash image

Islam Makhachev has retained the UFC lightweight title after a thrilling 25-minute back-and-forth contest with 145-lb champion Alex Volkanovski at UFC 284 in Perth.

The Dagestani took out a unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 49-46) but Volkanovski made him work awfully hard for it in front of a parochial Australian crowd.

Makhachev's grappling and Volkanovski's striking were seen as the two difference makers going into the bout and in the end they effectively cancelled each other out.

MORE: Hometown hero Della Maddalena produces special first-round victory

On the occasions he was taken down, Volkanovski remained calm, defended submission attempts and was able to get back to his feet on several occasions.

In the standup exchanges, Makhachev deserves plenty of credit for his counter shots and array of offence, which Volkanovski admitted caught him off guard.

“It was a fun fight, maybe I could have capitalised on some positions a bit more, left it a little late but hey, what do you do? Congrats to Islam,” Volkanovski said post-fight.

“He didn’t respect my wrestling and grappling and I guess maybe I didn’t respect his striking enough either because he landed some shots.”

The crowd at the RAC Arena were on the feet for the final moments after Volkanovski dropped Makhachev with a right hand but the Aussie couldn't get the finish.

Makhachev gave credit to Volkanovski for the challenge but asked to be acknowledged as the new pound-for-pound number one.

“This is a short and hard opponent. Thank you, Alex,” Makhachev told Michael Bisping in the octagon. 

“I thought he was going to be easy on the ground but this guy improved a lot.

“I showed why I’m number one (pound-for-pound), they have to improve more, I have good striking, good wrestling and grappling skills, this is his area but, you like or you don’t like, I am the best fighter in the world right now.”

In the co-main event, Yair Rodriguez claimed the interim featherweight championship with a second-round submission victory over Josh Emmett.

Rodriguez went to work with vicious kicks and while Emmett's power remained a threat, "El Pantera" was able to get the finish with a triangle choke.

Volkanovski said he'll take on Rodriguez next in a unification bout at featherweight.

“I’ll be back at lightweight but for now let me go and settle this featherweight division, congrats to Yair and now we build up a big featherweight fight, let’s go,” he added.

“I’m a better fighter because of this. The featherweights, you better f***in’ watch out. You challenge yourself like this, it only makes you stronger.”

Here's how it all went down:

UFC 284: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski results, highlights

Islam Makhachev defeats Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision

(48-47 x2, 49-46)

Round 5: We're going to the cards. An edge-of-the-seat affair goes the distance. We have Makhachev taking it but Volkanovski made him earn every bit of it. Islam landed a knee which cut Volkanovski over the left eye before Volkanovski showcased his grappling defence and then dropped the Russian with a right hand, the biggest shot of the fight. Don't be surprised if it goes the other way.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski (48-47 Makhachev)

Round 4: A dominant round for Islam although he didn't deal out much damage. Makhachev timed a shot perfectly and took Volkanovski down and got to work on a submission from the back but Volkanovski never looked close to giving up a choke. Volkanovski may need a finish depending how the judges have seen it.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Makhachev (39-37 Makhachev)

Round 3: Volkanovski appears to have the answer the Makhachev's grappling, defending a takedown attempt and unleashing a flurry on the break. These two are so evenly matched it could turn into a battle of fitness. Volkanovski edges it with activity.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski (29-28 Makhachev)

Round 2: Another super close round as both guys look to implement their gameplans. Volkanovski briefly drops Islam on the feet but the lightweight champ turns it into a takedown. Volkanovski is able to get back to his feet and is stunned himself by a left hand at one point. Islam finishes stronger and edges it on our card.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Makhachev (20-18 Makhachev)

Round 1: A fascinating first round in this superfight. Volkanovski started brightly and landed a pair of left hands, one of which rocked Makhachev briefly. The Dagestani than got one back, landing a left in an exchange in the pocket before initiating a clinch. Volkanovski went down but defended the submission attempts well.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Makhachev

Yair Rodriguez defeats Josh Emmett via second-round submission

"El Pantera" is the interim UFC featherweight champion!

The 30-year-old hurt Emmett in the second round with a barrage of kicks and a flying knee.

He then showed his versatility, locking in a triangle choke from his back to hand Emmett his first submission loss.

Round 1: Rodriguez starts brightly, making the most of his reach advantage to land kicks at range. Emmett then finds the target with a big right hand which changes the complexion of the round and had the Mexican on his back. Pretty close in our book.

SN Unofficial score: 10-9 Emmett

Jack Della Maddalena defeats Randy Brown via first-round submission

OH MY!!!

MORE: Hometown hero Della Maddalena produces special first-round victory

Jack Della Maddalena with a masterclass first-round stoppage over the experienced Randy Brown.

After a cagey opening few exchanges, Della Maddalena closed the distance and landed a looping right hook to put Brown on skates.

After some ground-and-pound, the Perth boy took Brown's back and finished him with a rear-naked choke.

Huge victory in front of his home fans.

Justin Tafa defeats Parker Porter via first-round knockout

BOOM!

Tafa with a bomb step-back left hand to close the show just over a minute into the first round.

Right on the chin, no follow-up shot required from Brisbane's own heavyweight.

Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield (Majority draw)

(28-28, 29-27)

A point deduction ultimately cost Menifield the victory after referee Marc Goddard punished him for a fence grab.

That one will take some beating for the Fight of the Night.

Crute was rocked badly and nearly finished after taking some huge shots in the first round but he was somehow able to get himself into the fight in the second, chasing a submission late in the frame.

The Aussie clearly had the advantage in the grappling but he ate plenty of big strikes getting the fight to the mat.

After the result, both men confirmed their interest in running it back.

Modestas Bukauskas defeats Tyson Pedro via unanimous decision

(29-28 x2, 30-27)

Bukauskas scores a big win on his UFC return, defeating Australia's Pedro in the final bout on the prelims.

Pedro secured a takedown in the first round but Bukauskas looked sharper on the feet throughout the fight.

The Lithuanian-Englishman showed a nice diversity of offence, while Pedro looked uncharacteristically sluggish.

Josh Culibao defeats Melsik Baghdasaryan via second-round submission

What a win for Culibao!

The Sydneysider recovered from a nasty groin shot in the first round to finish Baghdasaryan with a rear-naked choke in the second.

Baghdasaryan looked to have the slight edge on the feet but, after following up from a jab which saw his opponent lose his balance, "Kuya" didn't need an invitation to take his back and lock in the submission.

Listen to the crowd in the RAC Arena go off.

Kleydson Rodrigues defeats Shannon Ross via first-round TKO

The dream of an Australian clean sweep is dead.

Brazil's Rodrigues stops Ross after just 59 seconds, hurting him to the body before swarming for the finish.

Brutal stuff from Rodrigues who makes the most of his promotional debut.

Jamie Mullarkey defeats Francisco Prado via unanimous decision

(30-27 x3)

The locals keep the run going as Mullarkey cruises to a pretty comfortable points victory over Prado.

A late kimura attempt the only real moment of concern for the Aussie but he managed to escape and finish the fight on his feet.

Following the decision, Mullarkey called out Englishman Paddy Pimblett.

MORE: Mullarkey calls out cult hero Paddy Pimblett

Jack Jenkins defeats Don Shainis via unanimous decision

(30-27 x2, 29-28)

One fight, one win for the Australians in Perth.

A really well-rounded performance from the Victorian Jenkins who showed a wide range of his skills.

Couldn't get the finish despite taking Shainis' back on several occasions but overall a very solid UFC debut.

Loma Lookboonmee defeats Elise Reed via second-round submission

Lookboonmee scores a nice victory courtesy of a rear-naked choke in the second round.

The Thai strawweight found herself on the bottom at the end of the first but returned serve after the break.

Blake Bilder defeats Shane Young via unanimous decision

(30-27 x2, 29-28)

Another win for a UFC debutant to start the card in Perth, with Bilder claiming a UD win over his Kiwi opponent.

Elves Brenner defeats Zubaira Tukhugov via split decision

(30-27, 29-28, 28-29)

The Brazilian UFC debutant claims a contentious split-decision victory over Tukhugov in the opener.

Michael Bisping in commentary labeled the result a "robbery".

When is UFC 284: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Date: Saturday, February 11 | Sunday, February 12
  • FIGHT PASS Prelims: 6:15 p.m. ET | 11:15 p.m. ET GMT | 10:15 a.m. AEDT
  • Prelims: 8 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. GMT | 12 p.m. AEDT
  • Main card: 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT 
  • Main event: 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. GMT | 4:15 p.m. AEDT (approximately)

UFC 284 takes place on February 11. 

MORE: How to bet UFC 284: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski

The FIGHT PASS prelims begin at 6:15 p.m. ET | 11:15 p.m. ET GMT | 10:15 a.m. AEDT, while the regular prelims start at 8 p.m. ET | 1 a.m. GMT | 12 p.m. AEDT. The main card starts at 10 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 2 p.m. AEDT.

Makhachev and Volkanovski should make their way to the octagon around 12:15 a.m. ET | 5:15 a.m. GMT | 4:15 p.m. AEDT, depending on how long the undercard fights last. 

How to watch UFC 284: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski?

Country Date Channel + Live Stream (main card)
United States Sat. Feb. 11 ESPN+, ESPN PPV
Canada Sat. Feb. 11 BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel,  Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass
United Kingdom Sun. Feb. 12 BT Sport
Australia Sun. Feb. 12 Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass

The main card for UFC 284 is available in the U.S. and Mexico on the ESPN+ subscription streaming service for a pay-per-view cost. Earlier fights are viewable live on ESPN+. 

In Canada, the main card pay-per-view is available on BELL, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel, Videotron, Telus, Eastlink, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass

In the United Kingdom, the main card will be available on BT Sport, with the prelims available on UFC Fight Pass. 

In Australia, the main card will be on Main Event, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV, and UFC PPV on UFC Fight Pass.

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski PPV price: How much does UFC 284 cost? 

  • $79.99 (current ESPN+ subscribers)
  • $124.98 (new subscribers)

MORE: Sign up to watch the UFC 284 PPV, exclusively on ESPN+

In the U.S., the UFC 284 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 284 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $124.98 for the UFC 284 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.

Product Prices
ESPN+ Monthly Subscription $9.99/month
ESPN+ Annual Subscription $99.99/year
The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported $12.99/month
The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads $19.99/month
UFC PPV Standalone $79.99 each
UFC PPV Package (UFC PPV & ESPN+ Annual) $124.98, then $99.99/year
UFC PPV & The Disney Bundle

$79.99, then $12.99/month

Click here to learn about the different pricing and bundling options with the ESPN+ platform.

UFC 284 results

Main card

  • Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC lightweight title
  • Yair Rodriguez def. Josh Emmett for the interim UFC featherweight title
  • Jack Della Maddalena def. Randy Brown; Welterweights
  • Justin Tafa def. Parker Porter; Heavyweights
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield (Majority draw); Light Heavyweights

Prelims

  • Modestas Bukauskas def. Tyson Pedro; Light Heavyweights
  • Joshua Culibao def. Melsik Baghdasaryan; Featherweights
  • Kleydson Rodrigues def. Shannon Ross; Flyweights
  • Jamie Mullarkey def. Francisco Prado; Lightweights

FIGHT PASS Prelims

  • Jack Jenkins def. Don Shainis; Featherweights
  • Loma Lookboonmee def. Elise Reed; Strawweights 
  • Blake Bilder def. Shane Young; Featherweights
  • Elves Brenner def. Zubaira Tukhugov; Lightweights

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Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.