Instead of Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev will meet with Alexander Volkanovski

Islam Makhachev, the only Russian champion of the UFC, the main promotion in mixed martial arts (MMA), has changed his opponent in the fight in which he will defend his lightweight title (up to 70 kg) next week. Instead of a rematch with the injured Brazilian Charles Oliveira, he will have another rematch, which is actually much more intriguing and difficult. Makhachev will face Australian Alexander Volkanovski, whom he defeated in February in a very tense fight, but who, despite the defeat, still ranks above the Russian in the ranking of the best fighters, regardless of weight category.

UFC head Dana White announced that one of the participants has been replaced in the central fight of the organization’s major tournament, which will be held on October 21 in Abu Dhabi. Instead of Brazilian Charles Oliveira, Australian Alexander Volkanovski will meet Islam Makhachev, the only Russian champion of the promotion who holds the lightweight title. The reason why Oliveira withdrew from the tournament was a severe cut to his eyebrow that he received on Monday during sparring in preparation for the fight.

Usually such situations are perceived by the show organizers as an unpleasant emergency. But this was that rare case when they seemed only happy about the incident. At least Dana White spoke about him at the press conference without a hint of negative emotions. On the contrary, he looked like an extremely happy man.

However, it can be understood. It was against Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski that Islam Makhachev, a friend and student of the brightest fighter in the history of not only Russian mixed martial arts, but perhaps mixed martial arts in general, Khabib Nurmagomedov, fought his previous fights. But they were very different in status and style.

In a match against Oliveira in October 2022, Makhachev won the then vacant champion title in the up to 70 kg category, which was previously held by Nurmagomedov.

It cannot be said that he caused a colossal stir. Most experts assumed that Makhachev, who by that time, after an almost accidental loss to Adrian Martins, had won ten victories in a row in the UFC, mostly extremely convincing, would easily cope with an experienced, but still not so physically powerful and bright Brazilian fighter, and their forecasts came true. The Russian crushed his opponent: in the second round, he sent him to the ground with a whipping blow, and then used a choke hold that was deadly in its effectiveness.

The story with Alexander Volkanovski was much more beautiful and interesting. This fight caused a colossal stir. The fact is that it was Volkanovski, the champion in the up to 66 kg category, who rose to a heavier division for the sake of the fight with Islam Makhachev, in almost all unofficial ratings of the best fighters, regardless of weight category, pound-for-pound, as well as in the similar official ranked top in the UFC rankings. And the fight itself, which took place in February in Perth, Australia, turned out great. For most of it, Makhachev was more effective. However, in the final, fifth round, the Russian found himself on the ground in an incredibly difficult position, under a hail of blows from his opponent. He survived this cannonade and won on points. All three referees gave it to Makhachev, but two with a minimal margin – 48:47. At the same time, a number of media resources called this outcome “controversial” and insisted that it simply requires urgently organizing a rematch. What would add intrigue to him is the fact that the UFC, despite Makhachev’s success, left him below the Australian in its classification. Now the Russian fighter occupies third position in it, and Volkanovski takes second, following the famous American Jon Jones, the heavyweight champion. However, instead, the UFC organized a rematch for Islam Makhachev against Charles Oliveira, whose promise to learn from the October loss did not make any impression on analysts: he was still listed as a clear outsider of the fight in Abu Dhabi.

As for Alexander Volkanovski, after the misfire in the fight with Makhachev, he quickly showed that it was unlikely to undermine his spirit.

Unlike the Russian, Volkanovski managed to perform twice this year. In his second fight, in July, he easily dealt with the great Cuban fighter Yair Rodriguez, knocking him out in the third round. And how passionately Volkanovski wanted the chance to cross paths with Makhachev again is perfectly summed up by the fact that, according to Dana White, it took “one call” to persuade him to fight in Abu Dhabi, despite the lack of preparation time. .

Alexey Dospehov