Final Up to date: February 12, 2023, 12:27 IST
UFC: Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski (Twitter)
Islam Makhachev survived an exhausting five-round conflict of attrition to retain his UFC light-weight title, scoring a unanimous resolution victory over Alexander Volkanovski after an exhilarating battle at a soldout RAC Area
Islam Makhachev defended his UFC light-weight world title on Sunday, carrying down Alexander “The Nice” Volkanovski each on his toes and on the bottom to safe a unanimous factors resolution in Perth.
Russia’s Makhachev derailed the Australian’s marketing campaign to grow to be simply the fifth fighter to carry two world titles concurrently in UFC historical past, regardless of a fiercely partisan crowd.
“So exhausting an opponent,” a breathless Makhachev mentioned after an exhilarating high of the invoice contest at UFC284. “I’m the best fighter on the earth proper now.”
The 31-year-old Makhachev stretched his unbeaten streak within the UFC to 12 fights and his total report to 24-1 as he made good on his threats to overpower the smaller Australian, with the judges’ playing cards studying 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.
The shock from Makhachev was his hanging, as he picked his photographs with precision touchdown overhand lefts and probing rights.
The Russian additionally made 4 trademark takedowns to go away the energetic Volkanovski in search of solutions.
An enormous proper from the Australian landed late within the fifth to lift native heartbeats however Makhachev held on.
Dagestan-born Makhachev has been schooled all through his profession by Khabib Nurmagomedov -– arguably the best fighter in UFC historical past — and boasted 11 submissions on his report coming into Perth.
The expectation was that Makhachev would look to rapidly take the struggle to the ground however the Australian’s health and floor defence managed to take it the space.
All of it got here all the way down to numbers with too many strikes landed by Makhachev and a better variety of takedowns executed.
The win moved Makhachev above Volkanovski within the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.
“I confirmed why I’m primary,” mentioned Makhachev. “You guys have to enhance extra. I believed he was going to be straightforward on the bottom however this man, he proved me improper.”
Volkanovski had moved up from featherweight for the struggle, trying to carve a spot in historical past.
Solely Conor McGregor (featherweight, light-weight), Daniel Cormier (gentle heavy, heavy), Amanda Nunes (bantam, feather) and Henry Cejudo (fly, bantam) had beforehand held two UFC belts concurrently.
As an alternative it was Makhachev who was contemplating how he would possibly safe his personal place among the many sport’s all-time greats.
“I simply must struggle some extra robust guys,” he mentioned.
Volkanovski will probably defend his featherweight belt subsequent in opposition to second-ranked Mexican Yair Rodriguez, who earlier gained the interim belt with a second-round submission of American Josh Emmett to safe the promise of a title shot
“Simply because I pulled up brief tonight doesn’t change a factor,” mentioned Volkanovski.
“I’ll be again however now let me go and settle this featherweight division.”
Australia’s rising welterweight Jack Della Maddalena earlier lit up the sector when he knocked down veteran American Randy Brown and choked him out to make it 4 first-round finishes in his 4 UFC fights.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)