Expert prediction
UFC 294 Preview: Islam Makhachev vs. Aleksander Volkanovski 2 Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Oct 21)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Aleksander Volkanovski is coming to fight Islam Makhachev on an 11-day notice.
- Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision eight months ago in Australia.
Islam Makhachev vs. Aleksander Volkanovski 2 is the new main event of UFC 294. We say “new” because the event in the United Arab Emirates was originally supposed to be headlined by a fight between Makhachev and Charles Oliveira.
Just eleven days before UFC 294, the Brazilian fighter announced he’s pulling out due to an injury. The reigning featherweight champ Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski stepped in to save the day. He’ll get a chance to become a double champ on October 21, something which he already tried back in February when Makhachev beat him by unanimous decision. Will he do better this time?
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m ET
- Where: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
- How to Watch: PPV
Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Islam Makhachev | |
| Alexander Volkanovski |
Fight Preview
Islam Makhachev (24-1) is a -240 to beat Alex Volkanovski (26-2) in the UFC 294 main event, which isn’t much of a surprise. There are several reasons why we agree with bookies that he needs to be considered a huge favorite.
First of all, Makhachev has had a full camp ahead of UFC 294, which isn’t the case with Volk, who’s agreed to the fight on an 11-day notice. Secondly, Makhachev’s confidence is sky-high considering that he’s already defeated Volkanovski once.
He did it by unanimous decision in one of the most exciting fights of 2023, which saw Volk knock him down once. The reason why Makhachev ended up winning is that he showed the world that Dagestani wrestling is better than Australian – he made four takedowns that day while suffering none.
READ ALSO: UFC 294 Preview: Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Oct 21)
The first Makhachev vs. Volkanovski fight took place in Australia, Volk’s home country, where the crowd was on his side. This Saturday, the two are fighting in the United Arab Emirates, where it’s almost 100% certain that the fans will be rooting for the reigning UFC Lightweight champ.
Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 Prediction
We think that Islam Makhachev is the best wrestler in the UFC. He showed it in the first duel with Volkanovski, which he won by decision. This time, he’s in much better shape than his opponent, which is why we think we might see Volk suffer his first loss inside the distance in more than 10 years.
Free Pick:
MMA
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