UFC 294 preview – Oliveria out, Volkanovski in!

With UFC 294 just weeks away, there has been plenty of anticipation surrounding this event. The headline fight for this card was the contest scheduled to take place between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveria, however, that has since had to change. 

In what was supposed to be a rematch for the UFC Lightweight Championship belt, the contest will now see the defending champion put his belt up against Alexander Volkanovski instead after the Brazilian fighter had to withdraw.

Oliveria And Makhachev First Match

Oliveria and Makhachev met at UFC 280 – the last event to have taken place in Abu Dhabi back in October 2022 – in which the latter managed to capture the vacant title with the use of submission in the second round. The rematch was highly anticipated as both would have been entering the bout in good form. 

Oliveria managed to defeat Beneil Dariush in the first round in his last fight, whereas Makhachev defeated Volkanovski at the beginning of the year via unanimous decision. The Russian champion will now compete against him again on October 21 as he puts his UFC Lightweight Championship on the line after the Australian bounced back with a victory against Yair Rodriguez in the headline bout at UFC 290.

What Should We Expect To See Happen At Makhachev VS Volkanovski 2?

While there will be numerous fight fans who will have been left feeling disappointed by the news of Oliveria’s injury, the decision to put Volkanoski in the fight will have been met with some enthusiasm. Both put on a compelling spectacle in their previous encounter and with both men on winning streaks and the title up for grabs again, there will be plenty of interest. 

Some will likely use the fight as an opportunity to place a wager on the fight, as the UFC has presented various betting potential for many who look to enhance their enjoyment of the sport. After checking out the useful CrocoSlots casino review and finding sports-themed games to play, bettors may want to add further excitement through sports betting. 

Those who are interested in wagering on the contest may want to consider the previous result between the pair, as history can often be telling. The pair met last year when the Russian fighter managed to win on a unanimous decision, and many believe that this could be the same way that the fight is decided this time around, too.

Makhachev edges Volkanovski In The Betting

Makhachev has been impressive in his recent fights and his most recent one was against the Australian. Many feel this could be an advantage as he already knows what to expect and knows the game plan and strategy that he needs to adopt to get the job done. He is the No. 1 ranked Lightweight fighter, with a win record of 24-1-0, while has significant factors in his favor.

Summary

Although Volkanovski is 26-2-0 in his career, he is three years older than the current champion, while he also competes at Featherweight, where he is ranked the No. 3. He is shorter, and weighs a significant amount less than his opponent, but does have a longer reach. Nonetheless, it is believed that he will fall short when the two square off on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. We should expect fireworks in the Octagon, though, as both are accomplished fighters who are likely to bring the pain when they step inside the cage!