UFC 284 results, highlights: Islam Makhachev edges past Alexander Volkanovski to retain lightweight title

Makhachev and Volkanovski fought tooth and nail in a fight that's outcome many will debate

Alexander Volkanovski fell short in his pursuit of glory but made believers of his many naysayers. UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight champion Volkanovski fought back-and-forth for five hard rounds. Makhachev retained his title, but the outcome is sure to be debated for some time.

Makhachev and Volkanovski masterfully weaponized each other's greatest strengths. Volkanovski managed to peel away Makhachev's grappling and confidence to wrestle offensively. But Makhachev mastered the range on the feet and countered Volkanovski well. All five rounds were competitive, but the momentum trended from Makhachev to Volkanovski with each passing five minutes.

Makhachev, 31, ran his win streak to 12 with the victory as he continues to collect accolades along the way. 

"I showed why I am No. 1... You like it or you don't like it, I'm the number one best fighter in the world," Makhachev told UFC commentator Michael Bisping during the post-fight interview. "I want a real contender. Not fakes."

Round 2 was a major swing round. Volkanovski appeared to have dropped the defending champion, but Makhachev immediately shot for and secured his second takedown of the fight. Later in the round, Makhachev hit Volkanovski with a big punch that put the challenger off-balance and sent him in retreat. Volkanovski wasn't always able to stuff the takedown attempt, but he regularly peeled off the notoriously sticky Makhachev and either broke free or pushed Makhachev against the fence.

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Round 4 should serve as research material when discussing scoring criteria. Makhachev took down Volkanovski and held his back for half of the round. However, he did not meaningfully threaten with submissions or land many blows. By contrast, Volkanovski repeatedly walloped on Makhachev by punching behind his own head. These were not fight-ending strikes, but they were arguably more impactful and of greater volume than what Makhachev offered in the same period of time. All three judges scored Round 4 for Makhachev.

The final frame was certainly the fight's most definitive. Makhachev did well early countering Volkanovski with knees, but ate a punch that dropped the lightweight champion. Volkanovski poured on the offense from top position but was unable to draw a stoppage. 

"People didn't give me a chance but I gave myself a chance," Volkanovski, a sizable underdog, told Bisping. "It was a fun fight. Maybe I could have capitalized on some positions more. I left it late, but what can you do? Congrats to Islam... Obviously, he didn't respect my wrestling and grappling and I guess maybe I didn't respect his strikes enough because he landed some good shots."

A fight that should reasonably have gone 3-2 in either direction was announced a unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in Makhachev's favor. Makhachev (No. 2 pound-for-pound) will likely usurp Volkanovski's No. 1 P4P spot in the UFC's rankings.

"Maybe we'll settle pound-for-pound again," Volkanovski said. 

It is unclear what the UFC has in store next for Makhachev but Volkanovski has an anointed challenger waiting to challenge his claim to the featherweight title. Yair Rodriguez defeated Josh Emmett via second-round submission in Saturday's co-main event to win the interim UFC featherweight championships. As a consequence, Volkanovski and Rodriguez will unify the belts at a later date.

"I'm a better fighter because of this and the featherweights better f---ing watch out," Volkanovski said.

The undercard also saw Jack Della Maddalena continue to impress as he scored another first-round stoppage with a submission of Randy Brown. Della Maddalena has now won all four of his UFC appearances in the first round with the previous three coming by knockout. And Justin Tafa returned to action with a massive knockout of Parker Porter in the first round.

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the UFC 284 below.

UFC 284 card and results

• Islam Makhachev (c) def. Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
• Yair Rodriguez (ic) def. Josh Emmett via second-round submission (triangle choke)
• Jack Della Maddalena def. Randy Brown via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Justin Tafa def. Parker Porter via first-round knockout (punch)
• Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menfield ends in a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
• Modestas Bukauskas def. Tyson Pedro via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Josh Culibao def. Melsik Baghdasaryan via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
• Kleydson Rodrigues def. Shannon Ross via first-round TKO (punches)
  
• Jamie Mullarkey def. Francisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Jack Jenkins def. Don Shainis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Loma Lookboonmee def. Elise Reed via second-round submission (rear-naked choke)
  
• Blake Bilder def. Shane Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Elves Brenner def. Zubaira Tukhugov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:47 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Official result: Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:44 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski -- Round 5: Makhachev landed a good left hand moments into the round. Makhachev also landed a knee to the body as Volkanovski tried to charge forward. Both men landed big shots in the clinch, with Makhachev landing knees and Volkanovski landing punches. Volkanovski suffered a cut above his eye from the knees and then popped up from a Makhachev takedown seconds later. Makhachev shot for a takedown again but Volkanovski defended well and was right back to standing. Volkanovski looked for his own takedown and nearly had it. Volkanovski dropped Makhachev with a right hand and followed to the ground, firing punches at Makhachev while inside the guard. Volkanovski remained on top, grinding away and possibly securing the right. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski (48-47 Volkanovski)

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:39 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski -- Round 4: Makhachev landed a straight early but Volkanovski took it and pressed forward. Volkanovski popped the jab but ate one in return from Makhachev. Makhachev perfectly timed Volkanovski to score a takedown and then took the back as Volkanovski tried to move toward the cage to get to his feet. Makhachev grabbed a body triangle and just held the position as Volkanovski threw punches backward. That was how the entire round played out, with Makhachev holding the position while Volkanovski threw punches backward at him. No clear case either way really. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski (38-38)

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:32 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski -- Round 3: Makhachev threw a head kick that was blocked and Volkanovski responded with a right hand. Makhachev landed a hard body kick but Volkanovski came back with a hook to the body. Another Volkanovski leg kick seemed to bother Makhachev a bit. Makhachev managed to get another takedown but Volkanovski got back to his feet and turned Makhachev against the cage before landing a big right hand and breaking away. Volkanovski continued to push the pace and land strikes and nearly take Makhachev down late. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Volkanovski (29-28 Makhachev)

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:26 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski -- Round 2: Volkanovski slipped under a wild punch from Makhachev and tried to fire a few power shots of his own. Volkanovski landed punches to the body and rocked Makhachev but as he followed trying to find a finish, Makhachev was able to score the takedown. Volkanovski stood up but Makhachev remained locked to his body. Volkanovski scrambled back to his feet and broke away to land a strike before Makhachev wrapped him up again. Volkanovski reversed the position and then broke away again. Volkanovski popped off some solid punches and a leg kick before a big shot from Makhachev backed him off. Makhachev followed up with several clean strikes. Volkanovski fired back with leg kicks and body punches. Volkanovski pinned Makhachev to the cage and looked for a takedown but had to give it up. Close, competitive fight through two rounds. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Makhachev (20-18)

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:20 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski -- Round 1: Volkanovski immediately began circling and feinting. Makhachev feinted a few takedown attempts as well, both men trying to establish a tempo advantage by throwing the other off their rhythm. Volkanovski landed a body punch and missed with a right hand behind as he charged forward. Volkanovski landed a left kick and a lead left and then briefly stumbled Makhachev with another left hand. Makhachev started to move backward a bit as Volkanovski pressured a bit more. Volkanovski again landed a leg kick.Makhaachev landed a few kicks and there was a wild exchange of punches from both men with Volkanovski briefly dropped to a knee. Makhachev then grabbed a body lock behind Volkanovski standing along the cage. Makhachev managed to get the takedown despite a good scramble by Volkanovski. Makhachev took the back as Volkanovski sat against the cage. Makhachev worked a face crank before the round came to a close with Volkanovski smiling. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Makhachev

[Feb 12, 2023 at 12:09 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Unsurprisingly, the crowd support is overwhelmingly in Volkanovski's favor as the crowd loudly cheered and sang along to Volkanovski's entrance music "Down Under" by Men at Work while booing Makhachev as he made his own cage walk.