PERTH, AUSTRALIA (AP) – Islam Makhachev defied a rowdy crowd and a sustained challenge from Alexander Volkanovski yesterday to cement his supremacy in the UFC lightweight division in a gruelling fight in Perth, Western Australia.
In the main event of UFC 284, Makhachev defended his 155-pound belt with an unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) to prevail in a five-round slugfest.
The 31-year-old also claimed the title of best pound-for-pound fighter from featherweight champion Australian Volkanovski, who saw his 22-win streak ended.
“People will call me not just ‘champ’, but ‘best fighter in the world’. I’m very happy,” said the Russian who was jeered throughout the fight by a sold-out 13,000 crowd at RAC Arena.
“I landed many good punches but he’s strong and a real champion. He was the best fighter in the world… not now.”
Makhachev (24 wins, one loss) had to fend off a furious challenge from the 34-year-old Volkanovski but his grappling and wrestling prowess proved enough.
Volkanovski, a former concreter and rugby league player, impressed as he moved up a division. He landed several blows and dominated for stretches of the contest but fell in his second defeat from 27 fights.
“It was a winnable fight. I’m very harsh on myself,” said Volkanovski, who hopes for a rematch with Makhachev after suffering his first UFC defeat. “I’m still proud of myself and proved people wrong but I expected to win and could have capitalised on things earlier (in the fight). Maybe I held back just a little bit until the last round.”
Among the other bouts on the main card, Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez choked out American Josh Emmett to become the interim featherweight champion.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid,” said Rodriguez.
