MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, Shaheen Al-Shatti, and Jed Meshew discuss Islam Makhachev‘s dominant victory over Alexander Volkanovski, his position in the pound-for-pound rankings, potential next opponents, Volkanovski’s future, and the possibility of Makhachev fighting Ilia Topuria in January, among other topics from UFC 294.
Islam Makhachev made a statement at UFC 294 by brutally knocking out Alexander Volkanovski to retain his lightweight title. The victory brought closure to their rivalry and showcased Makhachev’s dominance in the octagon. The aftermath of the event saw a discussion among experts about Makhachev’s spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, potential opponents for his next fight, and Volkanovski’s future in the sport. Despite the brutal defeat, Volkanovski expressed his desire to fight again in January against Ilia Topuria.
In addition to Makhachev’s triumph, the co-main event featured an intriguing matchup between Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman. Chimaev secured a majority decision win after a 13-month hiatus from the sport, leaving many experts with more questions than answers about his future. The possibility of a fight between Chimaev and middleweight champ Sean Strickland was also discussed. The post-fight show delved into the unconventional actions of referees, questionable decisions made by the cage side doctor, and the surprising revelation of multiple fighters battling with staph infections.
To get more insights into the event, viewers were invited to watch the UFC 294 post-fight show, either through the video broadcast or an audio-only version accessible on various podcast platforms. The panel of experts gave their analysis, opinions, and predictions, covering a range of topics related to the fights, fighters’ performances, and the overall event.