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UFC 294: Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski preview

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MMA India Admin
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The UFC lightweight title was expected to be at stake when Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira squared off for the second time in a row. However, a cut forced the Brazilian out of the match, allowing featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski to step in and take on Makhachev again.

In less than a day, Kamaru Usman, the former welterweight champion, replaced Paulo Costa in the co-main event pairing, which had Khamzat Chimaev and Costa in it due to Costa’s recent elbow surgery.

Along with these bouts, the main card features a middleweight match between sophomore Ikram Aliskerov and veteran Warlley Alves, a bantamweight match between 17-3 Said Nurmagomedov and Muin Gafurov, who is also making his sophomore debut, and a light heavyweight bout between second-ranked Magomed Ankalaev and seventh-ranked Johnny Walker.

Khamzat Chimaev, Islam Makhachev
Khamzat Chimaev (H/T – Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

Who wins in the match between Alex Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev?

This will be a one-sided battle in Islam Makhachev’s advantage. The fact that this duel is short notice will be highly helpful to Makhachev’s strategy. Volkanovski won’t have the energy left after getting back up a few times early, so he will employ the same takedown heavy fighting strategy that he did in the first clash, but it will be even more effective this time. This is not a criticism of Volkanovski’s cardio; rather, it is a statement that he hasn’t had enough time to prepare for a battle this big and in this fast-paced manner. Though I don’t think it will be very competitive, I hope this fight goes well on the PPV for the sake of both main event fighters. Islam Makhachev ends this chapter of his career with a third-round ground and pound stoppage victory, setting up his previously planned rematch with Charles Oliveira.

Who wins in the match between Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman?

Undoubtedly, Kamaru Usman stands as one of the all-time best welterweight fighters and, following his retirement, he would have been a lock for the UFC Hall of Fame. He is undoubtedly half a step slower than he was in his peak, though, and it will provide a challenge for him in this fight, as I discovered after rewatching his third bout with Leon Edwards. He won’t have a size advantage over his opponent and won’t be the better wrestler for the first time in his UFC career. Given that he entered this battle on short notice, Usman will burn up gas early in the fight as he will be on his back for a considerable period of the fight.

For the duration of the battle, Khamzat Chimaev will be in complete control of this one-sided match. He will outfight Usman in strength and speed, using brutal ground and pound to finish the fight by TKO in the third round. Fans will never have seen Kamaru Usman simply get floored during a fight before, and this will most likely be the final time we see him in a title eliminator. He’s going to be competing for huge paydays against well-known opponents from now on.

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