UFC 294: Can Volkanovski become double champion at the second attempt?

Michael Bolton

With short notice changes to the main and co-main events, and a repeat of one of the fights of the year, the excitement around UFC 294 has accelerated over the past week.

Originally set to be headlined by Islam Makhachev v Charles Olivera, an injury to Olivera in training saw featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski take a rematch against Makhachev with just 10 days notice.

In February, Makhachev gave Volkanovski his first defeat in the UFC, as the lightweight champion earned a close decision victory in one of the fights of the year in Australia.

However, in Abu Dhabi, it will be Volkanovski's turn to attempt to win in enemy territory, and he knows it will be no easy task.

A cousin of former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev is seen by many as the fighter who will dominate the lightweight division over the coming years. It was his victory over Olivera this time last year that saw him become champion, and he is unbeaten since 2015, on a 12-fight win streak.

However, if one man can cause an upset, it is Volkanovski. He showed the step-up to lightweight is no problem, as he gave Makachev his toughest fight in the UFC, and will have learnt a lot in their first battle.

Since they last fought, the Australian's dominance of the featherweight division continued when he defeated Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290.

If Volkanovski was to win, he would join a short list of fighters who have achieved double champion status in the UFC.

In the co-main event, late drama has also dominated the narrative heading into this weekend. Originally scheduled to be Khamzat Chimaev v Paulo Costa, an injury to Costa has seen former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman step up to middleweight in what should be an exciting encounter.

The long-awaited return of Chimaev will see him move up to middleweight, with his last fight scheduled at welterweight saw him miss weight by eight pounds.

Storming through everyone with ease, Chimaev looked to be the next big superstar in the sport. However, after his weight miss for a scheduled bout against Nate Diaz, which saw him face Kevin Holland instead, Chimaev would not fight for another 13 months.

[caption id="attachment_1540671" align="alignnone" width="1024"]img Photo: Sofascore.[/caption]

Now back in the Octogon at middleweight, he will be hoping to remind everyone why he is a force to be reckoned with. A win over a former champion could set him up for a title shot against Sean Strickland, and arguably become one of the biggest stars of the sport.

Also out to prove a point this weekend is Kamaru Usman, who makes his debut at middleweight at short notice. After losing his dominant reign as welterweight champion to a spectacular head kick from Leon Edwards, he failed to regain his title in the trilogy back in March.

While this bout may not have been part of his plan, if Usman was to defeat Chimaev, it would show he is still amongst the elite of the sport, and would give him a shot at becoming champion in two different weight classes.

Elsewhere on the card, there could be big implications for the light-heavyweight division, as Magomed Ankalaev faces Johnny Walker.

This will be Ankalaev's first bout since his split-draw against Jan Błachowicz last December for the vacant title, which was won by Jamahal Hill in January this year.

Unbeaten since 2018, Ankalaev will be aiming to get right back in the title picture on Saturday, but standing in his way is Walker on a three-fight winning streak.

Win or lose, Walker is always guaranteed entertainment, but since training with John Kavanagh in Ireland, he has become far more composed and intelligent in the octagon, with wins over Paul Craig and Anthony Smith this year.

With Alex Perirera and Jiri Prochazka set to battle for the vacant belt at UFC 295, the next contender will likely come from the winner of this bout.

The action gets underway at the earlier time of 3pm on Saturday, with TNT Sports showing live coverage from 5pm.