UFC 294 will see the return of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who will face off in a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski. Makhachev was originally due to defend his belt against Charles Oliveira, but the Brazilian was forced to pull out of the bout after he split his eyebrow open during a sparring session. Instead, the main event in Abu Dhabi on October 21 will see Volkanovski stepping in to once again challenge for the Russian’s lightweight belt, after Makhachev defeated ‘The Great’ via unanimous decision during UFC 284 in Australia in February. Volkanovski, who currently holds the featherweight championship belt, will be hoping to exact revenge during the main card at UFC 294. He comes off the back of a successful defense of his featherweight belts against Yair Rodriguez in July, while Makhachev, 31, hasn’t fought since beating Volkanovski. UFC 294 will also feature a mouthwatering clash between Kamaru Usman and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev in the middleweight division. Usman comes into this bout having suffered back-to-back defeats to Leon Edwards, losing his welterweight title belts in the process. Usman was a late replacement for the injured Paulo Costa and will be out to get back to winning ways against Chimaev, who hasn’t fought since September of last year, when he submitted Kevin Holland in the first round.
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