Alexander Volkanovski-Islam Makhachev title struggle set for UFC 284

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will formally transfer up in weight to problem light-weight champion Islam Makhachev for a second title at UFC 284 on Feb. 11 in a struggle that might decide the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on this planet.

UFC officers introduced the light-weight title struggle Saturday. UFC 284 will happen in Perth, Australia, which is Volkanovski’s residence nation. It’s the first time the UFC has booked a struggle between two energetic champions, excluding interim champions, since March 2021.

Volkanovski (25-1) mentioned this week he’s already consuming 4,000 energy per day in anticipation of the transfer. He and Makhachev (23-1) squared off instantly following Makhachev’s title win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 final month in Abu Dhabi.

It is a matchup each champions expressed curiosity in from the beginning. Volkanovski has been an energetic champion at 145 kilos, and believes no single featherweight contender has set himself aside sufficient to warrant a title shot. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who’s Makhachev’s coach and longtime teammate, mentioned he needed Makhachev to face Volkanovski in his first title protection, and he needed it to happen in Perth.

ESPN ranks Volkanovski and Makhachev the Nos. 1 and three pound-for-pound fighters on this planet. Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who will defend his UFC title towards Alex Pereira on Saturday in New York, is ranked No. 2.