UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski
The poster for UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateFebruary 12, 2023 (2023-02-12)
VenueRAC Arena
CityPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Attendance14,124[1]
Total gate$4,086,687.70[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield

UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 12, 2023, at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.[2]

Background

The event marked the promotion's 16th overall trip to Australia, returning to the country for the first time since UFC 243 in Melbourne in October 2019.[3]

Makhachev (left) made his first title defense after winning the title at UFC 280. If victorious, Volkanovski (right) would have become the second man to be a simultaneous UFC featherweight and lightweight champion.

A UFC Lightweight Championship bout between current champion Islam Makhachev and current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski headlined the event.[4] This was the eighth time in UFC history that champions in different divisions fought for the same title, following UFC 94, UFC 205, UFC 226, UFC 232, UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, UFC 259, and UFC 277. If successful, Volkanovski would have become the fourth man to be champion in two divisions simultaneously and fifth fighter overall (after Conor McGregor at UFC 205, Daniel Cormier at UFC 226, Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 and UFC 277, and Henry Cejudo at UFC 238), as well as the eighth person overall to win a title in different divisions.[5] It was also the first time in the organization's history that the number 1 pound-for-pound fighter (Volkanovski) faced the number 2 fighter (Makhachev) for a championship.[6]

An interim UFC Featherweight Championship bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America featherweight winner Yair Rodríguez and Josh Emmett took place at the event.[7]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Paulo Costa was linked to this event.[8] However, Costa disputed the official announcement by the promotion indicating he had never signed a contract and the fight would not take place.[9][10] The pair was previously expected to headline UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum in April 2021, but Costa withdrew due to illness.[11]

A flyweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challengers Alex Perez and Kai Kara-France (the latter for the interim title) was scheduled for this event.[12] They were once booked for an event at San Diego on May 16, 2020, but the card was moved to a different location due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the bout eventually never took place.[13][14] In turn, the bout was canceled in late December as Kara-France suffered an undisclosed injury.[15] Perez was rescheduled for a bout against former Rizin Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape at UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. Sandhagen on March 25.[16]

A women's strawweight bout between Loma Lookboonmee and Elise Reed was scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Spivak.[17] However, the pair was moved to this event for undisclosed reasons.[18]

A lightweight bout between Nasrat Haqparast and Jamie Mullarkey was expected to take place at the event.[19] However, Haqparast withdrew due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Francisco Prado.[20]

A lightweight bout between Joel Álvarez and Zubaira Tukhugov was scheduled for the event.[21] However, Alvarez withrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Elves Brenner.[22] At the weigh-ins, Tukhugov weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pound over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Tukhugov was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Brenner.[23]

A heavyweight bout between promotional newcomer Junior Tafa and Austen Lane was scheduled for this event.[24] However, Lane withdrew due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Waldo Cortes-Acosta.[25] In turn, it was announced a few days later that Tafa withdrew due to injury and the bout was scrapped.[26]

A light heavyweight bout between Tyson Pedro and Zhang Mingyang was expected to take place at the event.[27] However, Zhang withdrew for unknown reasons and was replaced by Modestas Bukauskas.[28]

Also at the weigh-ins, Kleydson Rodrigues missed weight. He weighed in at 127 pounds, one pound over the flyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight with Rodrigues being fined 20% of his purse, which went to his opponent Shannon Ross.[23]

During the event's broadcast, the inaugural and former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver was announced as the next "pioneer wing" UFC Hall of Fame inductee.[29]

Results

Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight Islam Makhachev (c) def. Alexander Volkanovski Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46) 5 5:00 [a]
Featherweight Yair Rodríguez def. Josh Emmett Submission (triangle choke) 2 4:19 [b]
Welterweight Jack Della Maddalena def. Randy Brown Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:13
Heavyweight Justin Tafa def. Parker Porter KO (punch) 1 1:06
Light Heavyweight Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield Draw (majority) (29–27, 28–28, 28–28) 3 5:00 [c]
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Light Heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas def. Tyson Pedro Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Featherweight Joshua Culibao def. Melsik Baghdasaryan Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 2:02
Catchweight (127 lb) Kleydson Rodrigues def. Shannon Ross TKO (punches) 1 0:59
Lightweight Jamie Mullarkey def. Francisco Prado Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) 3 5:00
Early preliminary card (ESPN+ / UFC Fight Pass)
Featherweight Jack Jenkins def. Don Shainis Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Women's Strawweight Loma Lookboonmee def. Elise Reed Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 0:44
Featherweight Blake Bilder def. Shane Young Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Catchweight (157.5 lb) Elves Brener def. Zubaira Tukhugov Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 30–27) 3 5:00
  1. ^ For the UFC Lightweight Championship.
  2. ^ For the interim UFC Featherweight Championship.
  3. ^ Menifield was deducted 1 point in round 3 due to grabbing the fence.

[30]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mike Bohn (2023-02-12). "UFC 284 post-event facts: Islam Makhachev leads promotion in winning streaks". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. ^ Josh Zimmerman and Bryce Luff (2022-10-07). "UFC 284: MMA promotion to return to Perth for the first time in four years with February event". perthnow.com.au. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  3. ^ Staff (2022-10-07). "Report: UFC 284 set for Australia return in Perth in February". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-10-07.
  4. ^ Mike Heck (2022-11-12). "Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski lightweight title fight official for UFC 284". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  5. ^ Jack Baer (2022-11-12). "UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski to face lightweight champ Islam Makhachev for dual-belt status". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  6. ^ Kevin Iole (2023-02-06). "UFC 284: Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev to make history in first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  7. ^ Dan Hiergesell (2022-11-13). "Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett interim featherweight title fight added to UFC 284". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  8. ^ Damon Martin (2022-10-20). "Robert Whittaker vs. Paulo Costa booked for UFC 284 in Australia". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  9. ^ Nolan King (2022-12-19). "'They should stop being petty': Paulo Costa vs. Robert Whittaker reportedly off the table for UFC 284". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  10. ^ Nolan King (2022-12-19). "Robert Whittaker confirms he won't remain on UFC 284: 'This is very upsetting'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  11. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2021-03-16). "Paulo Costa ill, unable to fight Robert Whittaker at April 17 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  12. ^ Nolan King and Farah Hannoun (2022-11-16). "Kai Kara-France vs. Alex Perez joins UFC 284 lineup in Perth". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  13. ^ Nolan King and Mike Bohn (2020-03-06). "Alex Perez vs. Kai Kara-France booked for flyweight fight at UFC San Diego". mmajunkie. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  14. ^ Steven Marrocco (2020-04-20). "UFC officially cancels four events due to coronavirus pandemic". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  15. ^ Mike Bohn (2022-12-22). "Kai Kara-France announces injury withdrawal from UFC 284 in Perth: 'I'm gutted'". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  16. ^ Damon Martin (2022-12-23). "Manel Kape vs. Alex Perez in the works for UFC Fight Night card on March 25". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  17. ^ Farah Hannoun and Nolan King (2022-11-07). "UFC books Loma Lookboonmee vs. Elise Reed for Feb. 4 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  18. ^ Steve Duncan (2022-12-22). "Loma Lookboonmee vs. Elise Reed rescheduled for UFC 284". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-12-22. (in Spanish)
  19. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-12-08). "Nasrat Haqparast vs. Jamie Mullarkey in the works for UFC 284 in Perth". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  20. ^ Steve Duncan (2023-01-06). "Francisco Prado signs with UFC, faces Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 284". mma.uno. Retrieved 2023-01-06. (in Spanish)
  21. ^ Álvaro G. Colmenero (2022-12-13). "Joel Álvarez will fight Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC 284 in Australia". abc.es. Retrieved 2022-12-13. (in Spanish)
  22. ^ Arshad (2023-01-14). "Elves Brenner replaced J Alvarez against Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC 284". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  23. ^ a b Staff (2023-02-10). "UFC 284 weigh-in results: Both title fights set to lead pay-per-view, but two fighters heavy". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  24. ^ Steve Duncan (2023-01-16). "Junior Tafa signs contract with UFC, faces Austen Lane at UFC 284". mma.uno. Retrieved 2023-01-16. (in Spanish)
  25. ^ Steve Duncan (2023-01-20). "Change of plans: Junior Tafa will face Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 284". mma.uno. Retrieved 2023-01-20. (in Spanish)
  26. ^ Carlos Contreras Legaspi (2023-02-08). "UFC: Waldo Cortés-Acosta will face Marcos Rogerio 'Pezao' de Lima in April". espndeportes.espn.com. Retrieved 2023-02-09. (in Spanish)
  27. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-11-01). "UFC 284 adds Tyson Pedro vs. Zhang Mingyang to lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  28. ^ Staff (2023-01-25). "Modestas Bukauskas books return at UFC 284 in Perth vs. Tyson Pedro". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  29. ^ Nolan King (2023-02-11). "Jens Pulver to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  30. ^ "UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  31. ^ Newswire (2023-02-12). "UFC 284 post-fight bonuses: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski awarded 'Fight of the Night'". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
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