When And Where To Watch Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev?
If you’re a fan of MMA, you won’t want to miss the highly anticipated UFC 294 event set to take place in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 21. This event is headlined by a title fight rematch that has fight enthusiasts buzzing with excitement. Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev are set to go toe-to-toe in a battle that could redefine the lightweight division.
The Road to Rematch
The road to this rematch has been anything but straightforward. Initially, Makhachev was slated to defend his title against former champ Charles Oliveira, but Oliveira pulled out just days before the event. This unforeseen turn of events opened the door for Volkanovski, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, to step up and seize an opportunity to make history.
Chimaev vs. Usman: An Exciting Co-Main Event
While the lightweight title fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski is undoubtedly the main attraction, the co-main event brings another intriguing matchup to the Octagon. Khamzat Chimaev, an unbeaten rising star with a record of 12-0 in MMA, takes on none other than former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.
Now, stepping into the middleweight division against Usman on just ten days’ notice, Chimaev has the opportunity to silence doubters and assert himself as more than just a prospect.
On the other side of the Octagon, Kamaru Usman, a former welterweight champion, will be attempting to revitalise his career after two consecutive title fight losses to Leon Edwards. The pressure is on Usman as he finds himself an underdog against the rising Chimaev. It’s a momentous decision for Usman to venture into the middleweight division, and the outcome of this clash could have a significant impact on his future in the UFC.
Debut Fighters to Watch
Besides the main and co-main events, UFC 294 will also introduce two debut fighters, adding more excitement to an already stacked fight card. One of these debutants, Mohammad Yahya, is a United Arab Emirates native who will be competing in front of his home crowd. Yahya, the UAE Warriors lightweight champion, brings a five-fight winning streak to the Octagon and is set to face Trevor Peek, who has a record of 8-1 in MMA, on the preliminary card.
Shara Magomedov, a 29-year-old Russian middleweight, is the second debutant, and he’ll be taking on Brazil’s Bruno Silva. Magomedov’s record is a spotless 11-0, and his reputation for quick victories precedes him. In his last outing, he secured an 8-second knockout win in December. The anticipation surrounding these debut fighters is palpable as they look to make their mark in the world of MMA.
Betting Odds and More
As with any major sporting event, betting odds have been set for the main card and the preliminary card fights. Let’s take a closer look at these odds and what they imply for the potential outcomes of the fights.
Pay-per-view Main Card Betting Odds:
Champ Islam Makhachev (-350) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (+205) This is the highly anticipated lightweight title fight, with Makhachev as the favourite.
Khamzat Chimaev (-250) vs. Kamaru Usman (+200) A significant co-main event with Chimaev as the favourite.
Magomed Ankalaev (-350) vs. Johnny Walker (+275): Ankalaev is favoured in the light heavyweight clash.
Ikram Aliskerov (-470) vs. Warlley Alves (+360): Aliskerov is the clear favourite in the middleweight bout.
Muin Gafurov (+180) vs. Said Nurmagomedov (-220) A bantamweight fight with Nurmagomedov as the favourite.
ESPN+ Preliminary Card Betting Odds:
Tim Elliott (+370) vs. Muhammad Mokaev (-485) A flyweight bout with Mokaev as the favourite.
Trevor Peek (-125) vs. Mohammad Yahya (+105): a closely matched lightweight contest
Javid Basharat (-425) vs. Victor Henry (+330): Basharat is the favourite in this bantamweight fight.
Abu Azaitar (+145) vs. Sedriques Dumas (-175) A middleweight bout with Dumas as the favourite.
Mike Breeden (+320) vs. Anshul Jubli (-410) Jubli is the favourite in this lightweight clash.
Muhammad Naimov (+245) vs. Nathaniel Wood (305) A featherweight bout with Wood as the favourite.
Victoria Dudakova (-395) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (+310): a women’s strawweight fight with Dudakova as the favourite.
Shara Magomedov (-205) vs. Bruno Silva (+170): Magomedov is the favourite in this middleweight matchup.
When and Where to Watch
Now that you know what’s at stake and who the favourites are in the various matchups, the next question is how to watch this action-packed event. The UFC 294 main card is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET and will be available for streaming on ESPN+ as a pay-per-view event. The preliminary fights are set to commence at 10 a.m. ET and are also available on ESPN+.
Fans in the UK can tune in to TNT Sports to catch all the action from UFC 294. The event is set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, providing the perfect backdrop for these electrifying fights.
