Makhachev Retains Lightweight Belt With First-Round KO of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294

Islam Makhachev of Russia (top) battles Alex Volkanovski of Australia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during UFC 294, mixed martial arts fights at the Ethihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 21, 2023. Kamran Jebreili/AP Photo

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates—Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev watched featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski enter the octagon inside Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi to the 1981 hit “Land Down Under” by Australian band Men At Work.

Moments later, it was Makhachev who went to work at UFC 294.