Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski 1 – UFC 284

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Published on October 16, 2026 by administrator

The first fight between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski  at UFC 284  on February 12, 2023, was an instant classic that ended in a unanimous decision victory for Makhachev (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) to retain his UFC Lightweight Championship. Billed as a pound-for-pound superfight between the P4P #1 (Volkanovski) and #2 (Makhachev), the 25-minute battle in Perth, Australia, exceeded the massive hype with elite technical displays from both men.

Round-by-Round Breakdown

  • Round 1: The fighters opened cautiously, feeling out the distance. Volkanovski looked to blitz with quick entries, but Makhachev timed his counter-strikes well, dropping Volkanovski to a knee with a sharp left hand. Later in the round, Makhachev secured a takedown, dynamically took Volkanovski’s back against the fence, and looked for a rear-naked choke until the horn sounded.
  • Round 2: Volkanovski adjusted his distance, tracking effectively with leg kicks and landing short, powerful flurries on the inside. He displayed phenomenal takedown defense, successfully shrugging off early grappling chains. However, Makhachev continued to time heavy counter straight lefts, shaking Volkanovski up on the feet and landing a critical late takedown to edge the round.
  • Round 3: Volkanovski turned up the pressure and pace. He consistently chipped away at Makhachev with a heavy output of strikes, countering the champion’s attempts to lock up the body. Makhachev attempted to answer with his reach and stance switches, but Volkanovski outworked him in this frame.
  • Round 4: Makhachev leaned heavily on his grappling pedigree, executing a perfectly timed double-leg takedown in the center of the cage. He smoothly transitioned to Volkanovski’s back, locking in a tight body triangle. Makhachev spent the rest of the round controlling the position from the back; though Volkanovski aggressively punched backward and talked trash, he remained trapped.
  • Round 5: Volkanovski entered the final round with superior cardio, pushing a frantic pace against a visibly fatigued champion. Volkanovski cut Makhachev open and kept the pressure high. In the closing minute, Volkanovski landed a massive right hand that knocked Makhachev down. Volkanovski rushed into the guard, landing heavy ground-and-pound strikes as the arena erupted, finishing the fight in a dominant top position.

    The Aftermath

    While Makhachev secured the official nod on the judges’ scorecards due to his early damage, counter-striking, and ground control time, the fight was incredibly close and highly debated by fans and pundits. According to UFC Stats, Volkanovski actually outlanded Makhachev in total significant strikes (70 to 57), but Makhachev’s 4 completed takedowns and over 7 minutes of control time proved to be the deciding factors. The epic showdown earned Fight of the Night honors.

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