Islam Makhachev Head Kick Vanquishes Alexander Volkanovski in UFC 294 Headliner

Islam
Makhachev
did not need five rounds this time.

The American Kickboxing Academy superstar retained the undisputed

Ultimate Fighting Championship
lightweight crown, as he wrecked
Alexander
Volkanovski
with a head kick and follow-up punches in the first
round of their
UFC 294
headliner on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates. A short-notice substitution for Charles
Oliveira
, Volkanovski (26-3, 13-2 UFC) met his end 3:06 into
Round 1.

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Makhachev (25-1, 14-1 UFC)—who had beaten the City Kickboxing rep
by unanimous decision eight months ago—probed with kicks to all
levels, jockeyed for position in the clinch after his first
takedown attempt was denied and drifted out into open space. He
then fired the head kick above Volkanovski’s guard. Shin met skull
with devastating consequences, as the Aussie stumbled backward in a
compromised state. Makhachev offered no reprieve, letting go with
punches and hammerfists until referee Marc Goddard
had seen enough.

The 31-year-old Makhachev has won 13 fights in a row and now owns a
2-0 advantage in his head-to-head series with Volkanovski.

Unbeaten Chimaev Outduels Usman

Khamzat
Chimaev
cleared his most significant hurdle to date, as he
outgrappled former welterweight champion Kamaru
Usman
to a majority decision in the three-round co-main event
at 185 pounds. Judges Derek Cleary and Vito Paolillo saw it 29-27
for Chimaev, while David Lethaby scored it a 28-28 draw.



Chimaev (13-0, 7-0 UFC) seized the reins with takedowns and an
asphyxiating top game. He was at his best in the first round, where
he took down Usman, climbed to the back, applied his
ground-and-pound and ran through a series of crank and choke
attempts. None were successful, but a loud-and-clear message had
been sent. The pace slowed to a crawl in the middle stanza, then
picked up again in the third. Usman (20-4, 15-3 UFC)—a late
replacement for Paulo
Costa
—strung together punching combinations, got busy with his
jab and threw in a few front kicks. However, Chimaev secured
another takedown midway through the round and consolidated his
efforts with positional control and occasional punches.

Usman, 36, now finds himself on a three-fight losing streak.

Foul Prompts No Contest in Ankalaev-Walker

An inadvertent illegal knee strike from Magomed
Ankalaev
resulted in a no contest with SBG Ireland’s Johnny
Walker
in the first round of their light heavyweight showcase.
The cageside physician advised referee Daniel Movahedi to call for
the stoppage 3:13 into Round 1.

Walker (21-7, 7-4 UFC) slammed home a few inside leg kicks but
misfired on a flying knee. Ankalaev (17-1-1, 9-1-1 UFC) scrambled
behind the Brazilian, briefly threatened the neck and hammered away
with ground-and-pound. He then delivered an errant knee to the face
of the still-down Walker that led to the stoppage. Both men were
visibly perturbed by the decision.

Aliskerov Buries Replacement Alves

KHK MMA Team rep Ikram
Aliskerov
cut down “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 3
winner Warlley
Alves
with a flying knee and follow-up punches in the first
round of their middleweight attraction. A short-notice fill-in for
Nassourdine
Imavov
, Alves (14-7, 8-7 UFC) succumbed to blows 2:07 into
Round 1.

Aliskerov (15-1, 2-0 UFC) kept the Brazilian off-balance with front
kicks to the body, effective counters and one-twos. He dazed Alves
with a stiff jab, pushed him to the fence and uncorked a
devastating flying knee that forced the Rizzo RVT into a defensive
shell. Aliskerov offered no refuge and fired punches until his
counterpart crumpled to a seated position at the base of the
cage.

The 30-year-old Aliskerov has rattled off seven consecutive
victories, six of them finishes.

Nurmagomedov Guillotine Ensnares Gafurov

Former World Fighting Championship Akhmat titleholder Said
Nurmagomedov
put away Muin
Gafurov
with a guillotine choke in the first round of their
bantamweight appetizer. Nurmagomedov (18-3, 7-2 UFC) slammed the
door 1:13 into Round 1, as he rebounded from his March 11 decision
defeat to Jonathan
Martinez
.

Gafurov (18-6, 0-2 UFC) walked through a head kick, let his hands
fly and gave chase with an all-advised burst of offense.
Nurmagomedov used the Kaizen MMA product’s misguided movement
against him, snaked his arms in place as he crashed forward and
cranked on the choke until the job was done.

Nurmagomedov, 31, has won five of his past six bouts.

Continue Reading » UFC 294 Prelims:
Sharabutdin Magomedov Shines in Debut

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