Champion vs. champion fight set for February’s UFC 284

For the first time since March 2021, the UFC will hold a champion vs. champion fight at February 11th’s UFC 284.

Announced on Saturday after weeks of rumors, new UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will defend against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

UFC 284 will take place in Perth, Australia.

The 31-year-old Makhachev defeated former champion Charles Oliveira at October’s UFC 280 to win the vacant title while Volkanovski is riding a 22-fight win streak (12-0 UFC). 

Makhachev has won 11 straight and is 12-1 in the UFC while Volkanovski has been the featherweight champion since December 2019 and has four title defenses to his credit.

The UFC’s last such fight was in March 2021 when then-light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz defended against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, picking up a decision win.

The UFC has held several champion vs. champion fights through the years with notable ones including Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn (UFC 94); Conor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez (UFC 205); and Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic I (UFC 226).