Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

Joe Rogan on Islam Makhachev’s ‘perfect’ head kick KO of Alexander Volkanovski: ‘He showed so much improvement’

Although he wasn’t cageside in Abu Dhabi, longtime analyst Joe Rogan was impressed by Islam Makhachev’s knockout win at UFC 294.

[autotag]Joe Rogan[/autotag] was impressed by [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s performance at UFC 294.

Lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) left no doubt in his title-fight rematch with [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in Saturday’s main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Makhachev knocked out Volkanovski with a first-round head kick that left Rogan in awe.

“Oh my God! He head kicked him,” Rogan said on his “JRE Fight Companion.” “Wow! What a shocker. Who would have saw that coming? It was amazing. Shin to the dome, opened up a cut – it was perfect. Islam, man. He showed a bunch of new sh*t. That front kick, and he was throwing that kick to the body, and then he threw the same kick to the head.”

Makhachev’s control time won him his first fight with Volkanovski at UFC 284, but he didn’t need to rely on his grappling this time. Although their title-fight rematch only last three minutes, Rogan saw many strides in Makhachev’s striking.

“I’m just so impressed that he won that way,” Rogan said. “He showed so much improvement. He really made adjustments because they must have trained for Volkanovski again,even though he wasn’t fighting Volkanovski (originally).

“I’m sure they went over all the different things that Volkanovski did, and what are the counters to those things, and he shut a lot of it down. He shut down that switch kick to the outside leg, throwing that front kick up the middle, set up the head kick.”

Prior to beating Volkanovski twice, Makhachev showed off his striking against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280, when he knocked him down then submitted him in Round 2 to claim the vacant belt.

“He knocked (down) Oliveira in the last fight – remember, his striking was his weakest point,” Rogan said. “Now it’s f*cking as dangerous as anybody in the division. You knock out Volkanovski? Sh*t.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Spinning Back Clique LIVE: UFC 294 fallout for Makhachev, Volkanovski and Chimaev, plus Fury-Ngannou and more

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel discusses fallout from UFC 294’s biggest fights and the event’s weird moments, plus Ngannou-Fury and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Farah Hannoun, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Nolan King will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • Lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] looked better than ever when he took out featherweight champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] with a first-round knockout after he landed a head kick at UFC 294. Makhachev put a stamp on his rivalry with Volkanovski, has won 13 straight, is 14-1 in the UFC, has finishes in six of his past seven – is he the real deal, or is the jury still out on him as a potential all-time great?
  • Volkanovski took his second crack at Makhachev’s lightweight title and the opportunity to become a two-division champ on less than two weeks’ notice. He fared far worse in the rematch than in their February fight, when he lost a decision – but in a fight many scored in his favor. He admitted after this latest loss it might have been a bad idea to take a fight with that high of stakes on that short of notice. Can the UFC and other fighters learn something from it, or is the risk still worth the potential reward?
  • In the UFC 294 co-main event, former welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] stepped up on short notice to fight [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] at middleweight. And though Usman lost the fight, some thought he may have won – or at least could have left with a draw. Chimaev likely is next for new champ Sean Strickland, but should did he do enough to truly earn it? Is he championship material? And what’s next for Usman with three straight losses?
  • UFC 294 had its fair share of weird moments in Abu Dhabi. In one, the cageside doctor told a fighter who was in the middle of recovery time for a low blow that he had not been kicked in the groin. The fighter, Victor Henry, never recovered, left the arena in an ambulance, and had to be treated at a local hospital from the low strike. On the main card, the same doctor asked Johnny Walker what country he was in after an illegal strike from Magomed Ankalaev, and when he didn’t get a satisfactory answer said the fight should be stopped. It was, and that decision nearly set off a brawl and forced UFC CEO Dana White into the cage to help settle things down. What do we make of all the shenanigans at UFC 294?
  • After months and months of being in the news about his dispute with the UFC and his free agency move to the PFL and boxing opportunities, [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] finally will fight again Saturday when he boxes [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag] in Saudi Arabia. We’ll look ahead to his boxing debut and what the future holds for him outside the UFC.

Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 294 title fight loss?

After starting his UFC career with 12 straight wins, Alexander Volkanovski now has lost two of his past three after a KO loss at UFC 294.

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Islam Makhachev after UFC 294 title defense?)

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s second bid at becoming a two-division champion went up in flames on Saturday when he was knocked out by Islam Makhachev in their UFC 294 rematch.

For the first time in 10 years, Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) was stopped inside the distance. Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) cracked the featherweight champ with a vicious head kick knockout in the first round of their lightweight title rematch at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Volkanovski was emotional in the aftermath of the fight, but the upside is he still reigns at 145 pounds, and has yet to lose inside the octagon at that weight.

What’s next for Volkanovski? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC 294.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Video: Watch Israel Adesanya’s real-time reaction to Alexander Volkanovski’s KO loss at UFC 294

Check out Israel Adesanya’s real-time reaction to Alexander Volkanovski’s KO loss at UFC 294.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] had a rough night at the office on Saturday. It was an unfortunate result for him and his teammates, including [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag].

Volkanovski was knocked out with a head kick in his rematch against Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The knockout loss to Makhachev is the first time Volkanovski has been stopped in the octagon. Volkanovski had only lost once in the UFC prior to UFC 294, and it was in his close decision against Makhachev in February.

Adesanya, former UFC middleweight champion and friend and teammate of Volkanovski, posted a video on his YouTube channel reacting in real time to Volkanovski’s defeat.

You can watch the reaction in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

UFC 294 post-event facts: Kamaru Usman hits uncharted territory with three-fight skid

Check out the post-event stats from UFC 294, including Kamaru Usman’s shift to a near-record winning streak to three straight losses.

UFC 294 on Saturday marked the promotion’s annual trip to Abu Dhabi, and although the card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island started slow, it ended with a bang.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) put a bow on the evening when he emerged from his rematch with fellow champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) as the lightweight titleholder courtesy of a first-round head kick knockout.

For more on the numbers coming from the main event, as well as the rest of the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC 294.

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UFC 294 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Khamzat Chimaev gets $6,000 in return bout

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 294 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $237,000.

ABU DHABI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 294 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $237,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 294 took place at Etihad Arena. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN+ and YouTube.

The full UFC 294 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]: $42,000

[autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]: $11,000
vs. [autotag]Johnny Walker[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Ikram Aliskerov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Warlley Alves[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Said Nurmagomedov[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Muin Gafurov[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Trevor Peek[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Mohammad Yahya[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Javid Basharat[/autotag]: $4,500
vs. [autotag]Victor Henry[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Sedriques Dumas[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Abu Azaitar[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Mike Breeden[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Anshul Jubli[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Muhammad Naimov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Nathaniel Wood[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Viktoriia Dudakova[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Jinh Yu Frey[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Bruno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2023 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,888,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $21,407,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Alexander Volkanovski gets emotional revealing why he accepted UFC 294 bout: ‘I was just doing my head in’

After his UFC 294 loss, Alexander Volkanovski teared up describing why he took a title fight vs. Islam Makhachev on 11 days’ notice.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] couldn’t help himself, but the internal drive that led him to defeat Saturday at UFC 294 is also the same attribute that found him many a success.

Following his first-round knockout loss to [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag], Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) attempted to control his emotions as he explained why he accepted the lightweight title challenge on 11 days’ notice.

“I don’t want to sit there and obviously make excuses,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “You know what I mean? Obviously, I’m a big believer in preparation and stuff like that. But I back myself, so that’s the decision I made. You know what I mean? I’ve probably made decisions… I could’ve made better decisions, but he’s not somebody you should be taking a short notice with. But I needed it.

“A lot of people will say it’s for the money and all that, but it was much more than that. It was hard. It really is hard for athletes. Sorry. … I never thought I’d struggle with it, but for some reason when I wasn’t fighting or in camp, f*ck, sorry. … I was just doing my head in. I needed a fight.”

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The storybook ending was for not. A head kick from Makhachev three minutes into the fight swiftly marked the beginning of the end. Volkanovski swerved clear of misrepresenting any explanation of failure as an excuse, as he tried to wrap his head around his psyche and decision-making.

“This opportunity came up and to be honest, I wasn’t training as much as I should’ve,” Volkanovski said. “But I thought I had to do it. I had to take it. I’m telling myself it’s meant to be. I was struggling a bit not fighting, doing my head in. I don’t know how. Everything’s fine. I have a beautiful family but I don’t know. You just need to keep busy. That’s why I just asked the UFC to keep my busy. I just need to be keeping busy. I need to be in camp, otherwise I’m going to do my head in.”

While many fighters may experience the raw emotions of a fall from the top following a title loss, Volkanovski remains sitting atop a different mountain. He still holds the UFC featherweight title and indicated a defense vs. Ilia Topuria is “locked” for January, pending medical clearance. The hunger for competition was not satisfied by Saturday’s performance.

“I need to be busy,” Volkanovski said. “Again, it’s just I think my purpose obviously now is family and fighting. When I’m not fighting, I don’t feel like I’ ticking all the boxes. I need to be ticking all the boxes. I don’t like wasting time.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

UFC 294 results: Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski with early head kick in rematch

At UFC 294, Islam Makhachev’s second win over Alexander Volkanovski was much more definitive than the first.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s second win over [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] was much more definitive than the first.

In the UFC 294 main event, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) finished Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) with a head kick and punches at 3:06 of Round 1. The event took place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

A left high kick was the game-changer. It was a tool Makhachev used frequently in their first meeting, a fight he won by unanimous decision at UFC 284 in February.

Volkanovski flopped to the mat, along the cage. Makhachev quickly jumped on top and landed short hammerfists as blood leaked down Volkanovski’s face. That’s when referee Marc Goddard dove in.

After the fight, Makhachev voiced his support for Palestine as conflict in the Middle East continues. Volkanovski used his mic time to ask the UFC for more activity and indicated his plan is to return vs. Ilia Topuria.

With the win, Makhachev successfully defends his title for the second time and extends his winning streak to 13. He was initially expected to fight Charles Oliveira, who withdrew due to a cut.

Volkanovski loses for the second time under the UFC banner. His losses to Makhachev bookend a successful featherweight title defense against Yair Rodriguez in July. He is still undefeated in the UFC at featherweight.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 294 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294: Best photos from Abu Dhabi

Check out the best photos from Islam Makhachev’s first-round knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s first-round knockout win over [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] at UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. (Photos by Craig Kidwell, USA TODAY Sports; Giuseppe Cacace, Getty Images; MMA Junkie; and UFC)