UFC 294 live results: Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2

The Octagon returns to pay-per-view this weekend with their annual visit to Abu Dhabi for UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 from the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

The card underwent a recent shake-up to the two big fights, but arguably is now stronger than before. In the main event, UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev defends against UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch. The two fought in February in the current front-runner for 2023 Fight Of The Year, which was won by Makhachev. Volkanovski is taking this rematch on twelve days’ notice, replacing Charles Oliveira.

In another fight coming together on short notice, former UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman steps in on eleven days’ notice to take on undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at 185 pounds. Usman is coming off a pair of welterweight title fight losses to Leon Edwards, while Chimaev steps inside the Octagon for the first time in 13 months.

Also on the main card is a light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, a middleweight bout pitting Ikram Aliskerov against Warlley Alves, and a bantamweight bout between Said Nurmagomedov and Muin Gafurov.

ESPN+ PRELIMS | 10 AM ET/7 AM PT

> Middleweights- Shara Magomedov (11-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Bruno Silva (23-9, 4-3 UFC)

Magomedov lands an inside leg kick. He lands some more leg kicks. He lands a high kick and one to the body. Silva lands a body kick. Silva lands another body kick then a combination. Magomedov lands a hard leg kick and then rocks Silva with a right hand then a knee. Magomedov with another hard leg kick and then he defends a takedown attempt from Silva. Silva lands a couple of left hands. Magomedov lands a pair of hard leg kicks. They trade punches. We have a timeout for a groin kick from Magomedov. They get back to action. Magomedov lands another loud leg kick. They both land nice left hooks simultaneously. They trade and Silva lands some nice punches and Magomedov lands some leg kicks. 10-9 Magomedov.

Magomedov lands a body kick then an axe kick followed by a leg kick. Silva lands a left hand followed by a leg kick. Magomedov lands a head kick then a pair of body kicks. Magomedov lands a combo ending with a knee. Magomedov eating Silva up with some kicks but Silva is able to get a takedown. Magomedov lands some elbows from the bottom. Silva stands and Magomedov lands some upkicks as Magomedov is staying active from the bottom. Magomedov doing better on the mat though Silva now lands from the top. Silva stands and Magomedov lands more upkicks. Silva lands from the top but eats a massive upkick from Magomedov. Close round. 10-9 Magomedov, 20-18 Magomedov.

Magomedov lands a leg kick and Silva is able to get a takedown. They both land on the mat. Silva lands some punches and elbows from the top. Magomedov landing left hands from the bottom but Silva lands right hands from the top. Both are working on the mat as Silva remains on top. They get to their feet and Magomedov lands a knee. Silva tries a takedown as he pushes it against the fence but Magomedov rocks him with an elbow. Silva is able to get another takedown. Both landing on the mat. Magomedov lands a flurry of elbows from the bottom. Both landing hammerfists on the mat. Silva gets to side control. They get to their feet late. Fun fight. 10-9 Magomedov, 29-28 Magomedov.

Official Result- Shara Magomedov def. Bruno Silva by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

> Women’s Strawweights*- Viktoriia Dudakova (7-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Jinh Yu Frey (11-9, 2-5 UFC)

*Dudakova missed weight by .6 pounds

Dudakova lands a right hand. Frey lands to the body. They clinch and Dudakova lands a knee as she looked to get it down but Frey broke it up. Frey lands to the body. Dudakova looks for a takedown as she pushes it against the fence. They separate. Dudakova lands a left hand. They have a clash of heads and timeout is called. They get back to action and have a quick exchange. They clinch and Dudakova lands a series of knees. They tie up and Dudakova trying for a takedown but Frey shakes it off. Frey lands a body kick. Dudakova lands a big left hand that drops Frey late. 10-9 Dudakova.

Dudakova lands to start before Frey is able to get a takedown. Frey in side control but eats a few punches from Dudakova on the bottom. Frey lands some elbows and knees from side control. They get to their feet for a moment but Frey lands a punch and Dudakova goes back to the mat. Frey gets back on top. Dudakova looks for an armbar but Frey defends. Dudakova gets a warning for having her fingers inside of Frey’s glove, but an illegal upkick was missed. They stand and Dudakova lands a combo. They trade late. 10-9 Frey, 19-19.

Dudakova lands a combo as Frey landed a body kick. Frey went for a takedown but Dudakova defended. Frey lands a right hand. They trade in close range and Frey lands a nice left hand, though Dudakova is ahead on volume in this round. Dudakova lands a right hand. Dudakova lands a right hand then a stiff jab. They tie up and Frey pushes it against the fence. Frey trying hard for the takedown and lands a knee but Dudakova keeping it on the feet. Dudakova lands some knees. They trade late. 10-9 Dudakova, 29-28 Dudakova.

Official Result- Viktoriia Dudakova def. Jinh Yu Frey by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Featherweights- Nathaniel Wood (19-5, 7-2 UFC) vs. Muhammad Naimov (9-2, 1-0 UFC)

They both land leg kicks to start. Wood lands a nice leg kick and Naimov counters with a combo that hurts Wood. Naimov is able to get a takedown and is working from the top. Naimov landing from the top. He continues to land left hands from the top. They get to their feet. They clinch and Naimov lands a pair of groin strikes and Wood is in a lot of pain as they call timeout. They get back to action. Wood lands a pair of leg kicks. Wood lands a big left hand that hurts Naimov and Naimov might’ve fallen down if not for the fence. Wood follows up with a pair of punches before getting a takedown into side control. He looks for the arm as he moves to the back but lets Naimov get on top. Naimov in side control and grabs the neck. They get to their feet. Wood lands an elbow. 10-9 Naimov.

Naimov lands a kick to the groin of Wood to start the second and we have another timeout. They get back to action without a point taken away. They immediately clinch against the fence. Wood gets a takedown. They get to their feet as Wood has the back. Naimov tries to grab the fence. Naimov is able to get a takedown. Wood almost got to his feet but Naimov is able to keep it down. Wood is able to work it to the feet after not a ton of action on the mat. Wood looking for the arm and a kimura attempt as he lets Naimov take him down. Naimov with some knees to the thighs of Wood. They get to their feet and clinch at the end. 10-9 Naimov, 20-18 Naimov.

Naimov lands a kick. Wood grabs the back and pushes it against the fence but they separate. Naimov lands a high kick. Wood partially lands a left hand. Naimov lands a left hand and a leg kick. They trade kicks. Naimov drops down for a takedown and is able to secure it. They get to their feet and Wood lands a big right hand and then lands another. Wood lands another combo. Naimov tries a spin kick and falls to the mat and Wood lands a lot of big punches at the end from the top. 10-9 Wood, 29-28 Naimov.

Official Result- Muhammad Naimov def. Nathaniel Wood by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Lightweights*- Mike Breeden (10-6, 0-3 UFC) vs. Anshul Jubli (7-0, 1-0 UFC)

*Breeden missed weight by 3.5 pounds

Jubli lands a leg kick. Breeden lands a leg kick. Jubli lands to the body. Jubli lands a body kick. Breeden lands a combo. Jubli lands a right hand and a knee to the body. They trade as Jubli lands to the body and Breeden lands a right hand. Jubli lands a right hand to the body. Jubli lands a combo. Jubli lands a knee. Breeden lands a leg kick. Jubli ahead on volume here. They trade punches. 10-9 Jubli.

Jubli hurts Breeden with a right hand and starts swarming. Jubli lands a knee and a body kick. Jubli with more right hands and Breeden is cut open. Jubli with a body kick and they clinch. Breeden is throwing punches but not really landing as Jubli lands some right hands. Breeden lands a right hand. Jubli lands a right hand and Breeden counters with a combo. Breeden lands a body kick. They trade punches. Jubli lands a right hand. Jubli with a pair of leg kicks and Breeden counters with some punches. Jubli lands a right hand. They trade late. 10-9 Jubli, 20-18 Jubli.

They’re trading to start the third as Jubli is landing punches. Breeden is barking at Jubli. Jubli lands a big right hand. Breeden is landing and taunting Jubli. Jubli lands a leg kick and Breeden lands a right hand. Breeden lands a flurry against the fence. Breeden lands a stiff jab. Breeden’s taunting is affecting Jubli. Jubli tries a takedown but Breeden defends. They trade right hands. Jubli lands a pair of body kicks. He lands a right hand and Breeden lands a big left hand. Breeden lands a combo and drops Jubli and lands another right hand and gets the finish. What a comeback from Breeden!

Official Result- Mike Breeden def. Anshul Jubli by knockout (punch) at 3:00 of Round 3

> Middleweights- Abu Azaitar (14-3-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Sedriques Dumas (8-1, 1-1 UFC)

Azaitar lands some big punches and gets Dumas down but scrambles up and gets a takedown. Azaitar landing from the bottom as Dumas is trying to improve his position. Dumas lands a knee to the body from the top. Azaitar getting warned for hitting the back of the head. Dumas is controlling from the half-guard. He ends the round on top. 10-9 Dumas.

Dumas lands a leg kick. He lands another. He lands another. Azaitar rushes forward with punches and lands a right hand. Azaitar lands another right hand that makes Dumas circle away. Dumas lands a leg kick. Azaitar lands a leg kick. Dumas lands a stiff jab. They trade some big punches. Azaitar catches a leg and lands some right hands as he gets Dumas down. Azaitar lands from the top but they scramble up. Azaitar lands a leg kick. 10-9 Azaitar, 19-19.

Dumas lands a leg kick. Dumas lands a spin kick. Dumas rushes in and Azaitar lands some punches. They have a timeout for a hair pull. Dumas lands a left hand that hurts Azaitar but he’s able to recover. Azaitar lands a big flurry to the body. Azaitar is landing more here but there’s not a ton of activity. They trade kicks. Azaitar tries a late takedown and Dumas lands a head kick. Close fight. 10-9 Azaitar, 29-28 Azaitar.

Official Result- Sedriques Dumas def. Abu Azaitar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

> Bantamweights- Javid Basharat (14-0, 3-0 UFC) vs. Victor Henry (23-6, 2-1 UFC)

Henry lands a leg kick. Basharat lands a leg kick. Henry lands a leg kick as Basharat lands a right hand. Basharat lands a combo. Basharat gets a takedown. They scramble up and Basharat has the back. They separate and both land leg kicks. Henry lands some leg kicks. They tie up late and Basharat lands some knees. Close round. 10-9 Basharat.

We have an immediate groin strike on a kick from Basharat and Henry goes down in pain. The doctor is in and is telling Henry that he got kicked in the leg and not the groin, which is completely wrong. The fight is waved off as the five minute clock on the timeout runs out and Henry is still in tons of pain. This will either be a no contest or a disqualification, but likely a no contest.

Official Result- Javid Basharat vs. Victor Henry ends in a no contest (accidental groin strike) at :15 of Round 2

> Lightweights- Mohammad Yahya (12-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Trevor Peek (8-1, 1-1 UFC)

Peek lands a leg kick. Peek lands a combo and Yahya goes down for a brief moment. Peek is able to get a takedown and is in the half-guard. They get to their and Peek has it pushed against the fence. Peek lands a knee to the inside leg of Yahya. They separate and Yahya lands a body kick. Peek lands a leg kick. Yahya lands a left hand. Peek lands a left hand and Yahya lands a jumping knee. Yahya has the neck and drags it down for a choke attempt but Peek escapes near the end. 10-9 Peek.

They trade kicks. Yahya lands a body kick as Peek lands a right hand to the body. Yahya landing to the body with kicks as both are looking for openings. Yahya with a partial head kick. Peek lands a combo and then a body shot. Yahya slipped to the mat and Peek looks for a takedown against the fence. Peek lands a flurry. Yahya lands a left hand. They trade some big punches. Peek lands a combo to the body and head. Yahya lands a body kick. 10-9 Peek, 20-18 Peek.

Peek lands some punches to start the third. Peek landing some big shots against the fence. Peek gets it down and kind of has the mount. They get to their feet and Peek has the body lock and gets it back down. They get to their feet. Yahya lands a pair of body kicks. Peek lands a right hand. Yahya lands a left hand. They trade and Yahya pushes it against the fence but Peek reverses position. They separate. Peek lands some heavy right hands. Peek gets a takedown and is in the half-guard. He has full mount but Yahya escapes late. 10-9 Peek, 30-27 Peek.

Official Result- Trevor Peek def. Mohammad Yahya by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

> Flyweights- #10 Tim Elliott (19-12-1, 8-10 UFC) vs. #11 Muhammad Mokaev (9-0 1 NC, 4-0 UFC)

Elliott lands a leg kick. Mokaev lands a right hand but Elliott is able to get a takedown. They scramble to their feet. Mokaev comes forward and lands. They trade punches and Mokaev shoots for a takedown but Elliott defends. Elliott lands some knees but a couple of them were illegal and a timeout is called. They get back to action and Mokaev lands a high kick. Mokaev lands a right hand and combo before getting a takedown. Elliott has the neck and is looking for a guillotine choke. Elliott loses it but goes back for it. Mokaev landing body punches as he escapes the choke. Mokaev lands from the top. 10-9 Mokaev.

Mokaev gets a takedown. Elliott is looking for a guillotine choke. Mokaev landing heavy body punches and is able to get his neck free. Mokaev working from the top and keeping Elliott pinned on the bottom. Mokaev lands a right hand and it allows Elliott to look for a triangle choke. Mokaev then slams Elliott to the mat to get out of it and is working back in the full guard. Mokaev still landing from the top. 10-9 Mokaev, 20-18 Mokaev.

Mokaev looks for a takedown but Elliott is defending. Elliott now landing some knees and some of them were clean but he also landed a couple of illegal ones so we have another timeout. They get back to action in the same position. Mokaev is able to reverse and gets a big takedown on Elliott. Mokaev working from the top and locks in an arm-triangle choke and gets Elliott to tap. What a finish from Mokaev!

Official Result- Muhammad Mokaev def. Tim Elliott by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:03 of Round 3

ESPN+ PPV MAIN CARD | 2 PM ET/11 AM PT

> Bantamweights- Said Nurmagomedov (17-3, 6-2 UFC) vs. Muin Gafurov (18-5, 0-1 UFC)

Nurmagomedov throws a front high kick. Gafurov lands a leg kick. Nurmagomedov lands a head kick. Gafurov shoots for a takedown but Nurmagomedov quickly locks in a guillotine choke. It is in tight and Gafurov taps on the opposite side of the referee and falls asleep. What a finish from Nurmagomedov!

Official Result- Said Nurmagomedov def. Muin Gafurov by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:13 of Round 1

> Middleweights- Ikram Aliskerov (14-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Warlley Alves (14-6, 8-6 UFC)

Aliskerov landing some early punches as Alves lands some leg kicks. Aliskerov lands a body kick. Aliskerov lands a right hand and then a jab that buckles Alves. Aliskerov is landing a flurry with a jumping knee that hurts Alves and a flurry ends up finishing it. What a showing from Aliskerov!

Official Result- Ikram Aliskerov def. Warlley Alves by TKO (strikes) at 2:07 of Round 1

> Light Heavyweights- #2 Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1, 9-1-1 UFC) vs. #7 Johnny Walker (21-7, 7-4 UFC)

Walker lands a right hand. He lands a leg kick and then another. They trade leg kicks. Ankalaev lands a right hand. Ankalaev lands a body shot and Walker faked being hurt to try a flying knee that missed. Ankalaev gets it down for a moment and is trying to get the back. Ankalaev lands a clear illegal knee and we have a timeout. The doctor then stops the fight claiming Walker couldn’t continue and all hell broke loose as Walker pushed the referee, Ankalaev and Walker still kept trying to go after each other, security and even Dana White came in to calm things down.

Official Result- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker ends in a no contest (accidental foul) at 3:13 of Round 1

> Middleweights- #1-WW Kamaru Usman (20-3, 15-2 UFC) vs. #4-WW Khamzat Chimaev (12-0, 6-0 UFC)

Chimaev lands a body kick. Chimaev shoots for a takedown but Usman is defending. Chimaev takes the back standing and Usman goes to a knee but gets up. Chimaev flattens Usman out for a moment and lands punches. Usman gets to his knees but Chimaev has full back control. Chimaev still landing from the back. They stand and Chimaev is on the back still and is looking for a choke. Usman slams Chimaev down but Chimaev still has the back on the ground. Chimaev looking for the choke again but lets go. Chimaev lands some more. 10-8 Chimaev.

Usman lands a leg kick. Usman lands a left hand. Chimaev lands a body kick. Chimaev lands a low kick. Usman lands a right hand. Chimaev lands a leg kick. Chimaev with a head kick attempt that Usman blocks. Usman lands a right hand after a jab then a calf kick. Usman lands a left hand. Chimaev gets a takedown. Not much happens on the ground as Usman played good defense. Close round. 10-9 Usman, 19-18 Chimaev.

Chimaev shoots for a takedown but Usman easily defends and spins away. Usman lands a right hand. Chimaev lands a right hand and Usman fires back with one. Chimaev tries a takedown but Usman defends. Usman lands a jab and a right hand in close range. Usman lands a jab and is landing away at Chimaev. Usman with a combo. Chimaev is able to get the takedown. Chimaev is on top but not doing much though he is keeping Usman pinned to the bottom. They scramble up. Usman lands a right hand. They swing late. 10-9 Chimaev, 29-27 Chimaev.

Official Result- Khamzat Chimaev def. Kamaru Usman by majority decision (29-27, 29-27, 28-28)

> UFC Lightweight Championship- C Islam Makhachev (24-1, 13-1 UFC) vs. C-FW Alexander Volkanovski (26-2, 13-1 UFC)

Makhachev lands a leg kick. He lands another. He shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Both are landing as they’re tied up with Makhachev landing some knees. They separate. Makhachev lands a body kick. Makhachev lands a left hand. Makhachev lands a head kick and Volkanovski goes down. Makhachev gets on top and starts landing and finishes it off! What a finish from Makhachev!

Official Result- Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski by knockout (head kick & punches) at 3:06 of Round 1 to retain the UFC Lightweight Championship