UFC 294 undercard: Full list of fights before Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski 2 main event in Abu Dbabi

Fighting on just 10 days’ notice, can Alexander Volkanovski avenge the lone loss of his career inside the octagon, or will Islam Makhachev go 2-0 against the Aussie in 2023? Makhachev defends the UFC lightweight title against Volkanovski at UFC 294 on October 21. The fight takes place at the Etihad Arena and airs on ESPN+ PPV in the U.S.

Volkanovski (26-3), three months removed from hand surgery, replaces Charles Oliveira, who was cut near his eye during a training session. The UFC featherweight champion had his 22-fight win streak snapped after moving up in weight to face Makhachev at UFC 284 in February. While the odds are against him, the Aussie looks to end 2023 on a high note. 

Makhachev (24-1) beat Charles Oliveira to win the belt and hasn't competed since the Volkanovski fight. The two went five rounds, with both praising the other afterward. UFC 284 took place in Australia, Volkanovski's backyard, and Makhachev believes it will be an even playing field when they square off in Abu Dhabi. 

“Things are going to be different this time for me because really [the fight is at a] pretty much normal time,” Makhachev told Yahoo Sports. “I don’t think maybe people understand the schedules in Australia. The beginning fighters [on the preliminary card], they had to go to the arena at 5 in the morning.

WATCH: UFC 294: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2, exclusively on ESPN+

“I woke up very early, ate, and breakfast was just two eggs, and then we went to the arena. I didn’t have much time for recovery. That’s the biggest thing for me, that recovery, but because [of the time] they didn’t give us much time for the recovery. It was hard. For him, his best chance was in Australia, where he’s at home on his time and doesn’t have to cut that much weight. It will be different for me this one.”

Outside the main event, a former champion returns to compete in a different division, while there are several Russia vs. Brazil matchups. Here’s a full breakdown of the entire UFC 294 main card.

UFC 294 undercard

Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev

• Division/Weight: Middleweight
• Usman record: 20-3
• Chimaev record: 12-0
• Belts at stake: N/A

The co-main event will see Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev in a UFC middleweight title eliminator. 

Usman (20-3) is a 2010 NCAA Division II National Champion and a three-time NCAA Division II All-American. He turned pro in 2012, competing with Legacy FC. "The Nigerian Nightmare" joined the UFC in 2015, winning The Ultimate Fighter 21.

If you include his time on TUF, Usman had a 21-fight win streak. He won the UFC welterweight title in 2019, which he held until 2022 when a miracle kick by Leon Edwards avenged a prior defeat and ended his reign. Usman also lost the trilogy fight in March, going 1-2 in the rivalry.

He replaces Paulo Costa, who backed out after undergoing elbow surgery a few weeks ago. 

MORE: How to bet on UFC 294

Chimaev (12-0) is a three-time Swedish Nationals gold medalist. He made his pro debut in 2018 and joined the UFC in 2020 following a run with Brave CF.

The 29-year-old quickly won three fights for the promotion that year but suffered complications after testing positive for COVID-19 in late 2020, forcing multiple bouts to be nixed. At one point, he considered retirement after coughing up blood.

However, Chimaev returned in October 2021 and beat Li Jingliang. He also beat Gilbert Burns and was going to face Nate Diaz at UFC 279 before missing weight. Chimaev fought Kevin Holland in a catchweight fight instead and won via submission. 

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker

• Division/Weight: Light Heavyweight
• Ankalaev record: 18-1-1
• Walker record: 21-7
• Belts at stake: N/A

It's Russia vs. Brazil as Magomed Ankalaev faces Johnny Walker. 

An 11-time gold medalist in MMA and Sambo, Ankalaev (18-1-1) turned pro in 2014. He joined the UFC in 2018, losing against Paul Craig. Since then, he has gone unbeaten with a 9-0-1 record. In December 2022, he fought Jan Blachowicz to a controversial draw for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title. Ankalaev appeared to have the edge but the scorecards stated otherwise. 

Representing SBG Ireland, Walker (21-7) turned pro in 2013. A Dana White's Contender Series alum, Walker joined the UFC in 2018. Including DWCS, he is 8-4 in the octagon and is known for hurting himself after doing the worm. Following a few setbacks, Walker is on a three-fight win streak, with his last fight a unanimous decision win over Anthony Smith in May. 

Ikram Aliskerov vs. Warlley Alves

• Division/Weight: Middleweight
• Aliskerov record: 14-1
• Alves record: 14-6
• Belts at stake: N/A

Further down the card is another Russia vs. Brazil matchup: Ikram Aliskerov vs. Warlley Alves

A seven-time gold medalist in Sambo, Aliskerov (14-1) turned pro in 2012. Fighting for Brave CF, he lost a fight to Khamzat Chimaev and has since won six in a row. A Dana White's Contender Series alum, Aliskerov is 2-0 in the octagon, with his last fight a knockout win over Phil Hawes in May. 

MORE: What's next for Conor McGregor following UFC-USADA split?

A three-time kickboxing champion, Alves (14-6) turned pro in 2011. Joining the UFC in 2014, the Brazilian won The Ultimate Fighter middleweight tournament and then announced his move to welterweight. Since the TUF win, Alves has gone 7-6 with the UFC and is on a two-fight losing streak. The 32-year-old last fought in January, losing to Nicolas Dalby. 

Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafurov

• Division/Weight: Bantamweight
• Nurmagomedov record: 17-3
• Gafurov record: 18-5
• Belts at stake: N/A

Opening the main card is Said Nurmagomedov vs. Muin Gafurov. 

Nurmagomedov (17-3) turned pro in 2009. A former WCB bantamweight champion, the Russian joined the UFC in 2018 and is 6-2 with the promotion. He had his four-fight win streak snapped in March by Jonathan Martinez.

Gafurov (18-5) turned pro in 2013. The man from Tajikistan lost his Dana White's Contender Series debut in 2021, won two in a row with LFA, and replaced an injured Mateus Mendonca in the octagon in June, losing to John Castaneda. 

When is UFC 294: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2?

UFC 294 begins at 10 a.m. ET with the prelims, with the main card at 2 p.m. ET. Makhachev and Volkanovski should make their way to the octagon around 5:15 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.

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Here's how that translates to different timezones globally:

How to watch UFC 294: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2 PPV price: How much does UFC 294 cost? 

In the U.S., the UFC 294 main card is available via pay-per-view on ESPN+, which also requires a subscription. The PPV price for UFC 292 is $79.99 for current subscribers. New subscribers can pay a bundle price of $134.98 for the UFC 294 pay-per-view and an ESPN+ annual subscription, which offers savings of more than 30 percent.

WATCH: UFC 294: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2, exclusively on ESPN+

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