Makhachev-Oliveira Title Rematch, Costa vs. Chimaev Announced for UFC 294

Abu Dhabi we're back and we're bringing a STACKED card with us!!@DanaWhite just announced the first three fights for #UFC294 in October 🔥

[ Tickets on sales this week | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/9mgcbIwbB8

— UFC (@ufc) July 20, 2023

Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira are going to run it back after all.

UFC president Dana White announced on Wednesday evening that a lightweight championship rematch between Makhachev and Oliveira will headline UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21. Additionally, Paulo Costa will meet Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight, while Nassourdine Imavov will face Ikram Aliskerov in another 185-pound bout. Costa and Alikerov were initially slated to face each other at UFC 291 before the new fights were revealed.

Makhachev and Oliveira first squared off at UFC 280, with the Dagestani claiming the vacant 155-pound belt with a second-round submission triumph. Makhachev returned to action at UFC 284 in February, when he took a closely-contested decision over featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Oliveira stated in recent interviews that he wanted to fight in November or December, but apparently those plans changed. “Do Bronx” rebounded from that defeat in his last outing, when he defeated Beneil Dariush via first-round TKO on June 10.

Costa hasn’t competed since UFC 278, when he halted a two-fight skid with a decision triumph over Luke Rockhold. “Borrachina” is a former 185-pound title challenger who also owns notable wins over the likes of Yoel Romero, Uriah Hall and Johny Hendricks.

Chimaev began his UFC tenure as a surging welterweight prospect. His focus shifted after missing weight for a proposed bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 279. Instead, “Borz” defeated Kevin Holland via first-round submission in a 180-pound catchweight bout at the Sept. 10 event.