UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is stepping up to save the day and seek redemption for his only UFC loss. He’s agreed to fight UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev on short notice, as Charles Oliveira had to drop out of the main event at UFC 294 due to an injury.
The fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski will take place on Saturday, October 21 in Abu Dhabi. It’s a rare champ vs. champ super fight, and what makes it unique is that both champions are competing in a two-fight series. Volkanovski has about 10 days to prepare for this title fight in a higher weight class. In their first encounter, Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision, but Volkanovski gained a lot of respect by giving Makhachev a tough challenge. Makhachev hasn’t fought since February, while Volkanovski defended his featherweight title in July against Yair Rodriguez.
There’s also lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot waiting in the wings. He was initially the backup fighter for Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2, meant to step in if one of the booked fighters couldn’t make weight or had to withdraw. However, the UFC decided to go with the high-profile rematch between Makhachev and Volkanovski.
Unfortunately, injuries have affected the UFC 294 card beyond Oliveira’s absence. Middleweight contender Paulo Costa had to undergo elbow surgery just four weeks before the event, and doctors ruled him unfit to compete despite his protests. Dana White announced that former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will move up to middleweight to face Chimaev, and the winner will likely get a shot at the UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland.
Here’s the full fight card for UFC 294, along with the latest odds. Stay tuned for more news, features, and content about this significant event throughout the week.
UFC 294 fight card, odds
- Islam Makhachev -230 vs. Alexander Volkanovski +190, lightweight championship
- Khamzat Chimaev vs. Kamaru Usman, middleweights
- Magomed Ankalaev -340 vs. Johnny Walker +270, light heavyweights
- Ikram Aliskerov -120 vs. Nassourdine Imavov +100, middleweights
- Said Nurmagomedov -195 vs. Muin Gafurov +165, bantamweights
- Muhammad Mokaev -500 vs. Tim Elliot +380, flyweights
- Mohammad Yahya -135 vs. Trevor Peek +115, lightweights
- Javid Basharat -420 vs. Victor Henry +330, bantamweights
- Sedriques Dumas -165 vs. Abu Azaitar +140, middleweights
- Anshul Jubli -420 vs. Mike Breeden +320, lightweights
- Nathaniel Wood -320 vs. Muhammad Naimov +250, featherweights
- Viktoriia Dudakova -360 vs. Jinh Yu Frey +280, women’s strawweights
- Shara Magomedov -195 vs. Bruno Silva +165, middleweights
UFC 294 Details
- Date: Oct. 21
- Location: Etihad Arena — Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET (Main card)
- How to watch: ESPN+ PPV
