About a minute remained in the lightweight title fight Saturday at UFC 284 between hometown hero Alex Volkanovski and reigning champion Islam Makhachev which, by that stage, had already lived up to every one of the outsized expectations for it.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Islam Makhachev of Russia and Alexander Volkanovski of Australia talk after their UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 284 event at RAC Arena on February 12, 2023 in Perth, Australia. About a minute remained in the lightweight title fight Saturday at
As the clock ticked relentlessly on, Volkanovski landed a right hand. Makhachev was hurt and fell to his back. Volkanovski, knowing it was now-or-never, jumped on him, hoping for a dramatic last-minute finish. Makhachev closed as a -375 favorite at BetMGM largely as a result of his wrestling, but it was his striking and his toughness, his ability to take a punch and survive, that led him to the finish.
Makhachev was in control for much of the fight but he was never dominating or close to finishing. He had 7:37 of control time, around 30 percent of the fight. He had no submission attempts and no knockdowns, though he did drop Volkanovski to a knee at one point in the first round. Yair Rodriguez, who turned in an exceptional performance in a win over Josh Emmett that gave him the interim featherweight beltNo doubt, though, Volkanovski will keep an eye on Makhachev's results, eager for that second chance to prove what he already knows in his heart, that he is good enough to win.
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