Islam Makhachev Outshines Alexander Volkanovski in Tactical UFC 284 Superfight

Islam Makhachev still rules 155 pounds.

The American Kickboxing Academy star retained the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight crown with a hard-earned unanimous decision over reigning featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski in the five-round UFC 284 headliner on Saturday at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. All three members of the cageside judiciary scored it for Makhachev (24-1, 13-1 UFC): 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.

It was a tactical struggle from start to finish. Makhachev countered effectively with both hands throughout the 25-minute affair and executed multiple takedowns, advancing to the back and threatening the neck on more than one occasion. He did his best work in Round 4, where he ducked into a takedown, progressed to the back when Volkanovski tried to escape and secured his position with a tight body triangle. Makhachev bottled up the outwardly frustrated Australian for more than three minutes, much to the chagrin of the raucous crowd. Volkanovski (25-2, 12-1 UFC) made his move late in the fifth round after being cut by a close-range knee strike. He drove Makhachev to all fours with a thudding right hand to the side of the head and forced his retreat to full guard. From there, Volkanovski cut loose with punches to the body and head with increasing intensity, his fellow Aussies roaring their approval. Alas, the finish he needed did not materialize.

Makhachev, 31, now finds himself on a run of 12 consecutive victories. The setback was Volkanovski’s first since May 10, 2013 and snapped his remarkable 22-fight winning streak.

Rodriguez Triangles Emmett, Strikes Interim Gold

“The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” Season 1 winner Yair Rodriguez dispatched Josh Emmett with a triangle choke and captured the interim UFC featherweight championship in the second round of their co-main event. Emmett (18-3, 9-3 UFC), who had never before been submitted, bowed out 4:19 into Round 2.

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Rodriguez (15-3, 10-2 UFC) unleashed a blistering attack on the Team Alpha Male rep’s body with a variety of kicks from every imaginable angle. However, Emmett did not go away quietly. He rocked Rodriguez with a right hook in the first round, powered into top position and leaned into his ground-and-pound. It was a harrowing exchange for “El Pantera,” but he managed to endure. Rodriguez continued to zero in on the body in the second round, and though he conceded a takedown after landing a flying knee, he had his reeling adversary right where he wanted him. Emmett soon wandered in the triangle and tapped once the choke was fully cinched.

The 30-year-old Rodriguez has won three of his past four bouts.

Della Maddalena Choke Thwarts Brown

Former Eternal MMA champion Jack Della Maddalena took care of Randy Brown with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their welterweight feature. Della Maddalena (14-2, 4-0 UFC) drew the curtain 2:13 into Round 1, as he recorded his 14th straight win.

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Brown (16-5, 10-5 UFC) initially exploited his four-inch height and five-inch reach advantages, keeping the Scrappy MMA rep at bay with a steady jab and routine stance switches. However, Della Maddalena closed the distance, trapped him along the fence and found the mark with a right hook behind the ear. Brown faceplanted into the canvas, ducked for cover and ate rapid-fired hammerfists until he surrendered his back. Della Maddalena then secured the choke and nailed down his first submission victory in more than five years.

The loss closed the book on Brown’s four-fight winning streak.

Tafa Counter KOs Porter

Justin Tafa put away onetime Reality Fighting titleholder Parker Porter with an exquisite counter left hook in the first round of their heavyweight attraction. Porter (12-8, 3-3 UFC) melted where he stood just 66 seconds into Round 1.

In his first appearance in 420 days, Tafa (6-3, 3-3 UFC) waited for an opportunity to present itself and made the most of it. He stepped backward against the oncoming Porter, beat him to the punch and connected with a perfectly placed left hook. Fist met chin, and no follow-up shots were required.

Tafa has rattled off back-to-back victories since his decision defeat to Jared Vanderaa in May 2021.

Crute, Menifield Battle to Draw

Former Hex Fight Series champion Jimmy Crute fought to a majority draw with fellow Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Alonzo Menifield in a grueling three-round light heavyweight showcase. Judges Ben Cartlidge and David Lethaby scored it 28-28, while Derek Cleary saw it 29-27 for Crute.

Crute (12-3-1, 4-3-1 UFC) struck for multiple takedowns in the first round, but nearly paid the price for his failure to corral the Saekson Muay Thai product. Menifield (13-3-1, 6-3-1 UFC) turned the tide at the end of the period and almost finished the Australian with a close-range elbow strike and two clubbing right hands along the cage. Only the bell prevented further punishment. A still-dazed Crute hit the deck at the start of Round 2, managed to weather the assault that followed and slowly but surely wormed his way back into the match with a timely takedown and a series of submission attempts. The two men emerged for the third round as spent forces, and a blatant fence grab resulted in Menifield being docked a key point. Crute seized the reins from there, achieving full mount on multiple occasions before wheeling behind the kneeling Pat Barry protégé and peppering him with short punches and hammerfists.

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