Makhachev walked into one of the crucial intense atmospheres in UFC historical past as champion. When he left, the belt got here with him.

In entrance of a rowdy RAC Enviornment stuffed with passionate followers who cheered on his opponent Volkanovski, the promotion’s light-weight champion Makhachev retained his title through unanimous determination. The bout served because the UFC 284 predominant occasion in Perth, Australia.

The matched the UFC-ranked No. 1 and No. 2 pound-for-pound fighters on the earth in opposition to one another – a first-time taking place. Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, elevated to 155 kilos and served as UFC light-weight champion Makhachev’s first title protection.

Few crowds have paralleled the loudness of the surroundings when Volkanovski first, then Makhachev second, walked into RAC Enviornment. The 2 fighters met reverse receptions because the followers sang alongside to “Down Below” by Males At Work throughout Volkanovski’s stroll, and booed throughout Makhachev’s stroll.

The thunderous vitality continued by way of the introductions and effectively into the primary spherical, and reenergized when Volkanovski landed the primary massive punch of the battle. Makhachev stumbled backward however didn’t go down. Moments later, each males landed exhausting photographs

Makhachev’s strike dropped Volkanovski down briefly. Volkanovski popped up however was taken down. Makhachev shimmied to the again however was unable to sneak in a choke earlier than the spherical ended.

In Spherical 2, Volkanovski was first to land a big blow. A punch dropped Makhachev, who popped up and took Volkanovski down once more. Volkanovski rose again to his toes and so they separated. Simply as Volkanovski discovered his stride with profitable strikes, Makhachev surprised him once more. Volkanovski went on the retreat and recovered earlier than some wall-and-stall and the end-of-round horn.

The tempo slowed in Spherical 3, as each males have been extra calculated and affected person with their assaults. Halfway by way of the spherical, Makhachev took Volkanovski down. However like all the opposite cases with one exception, Volkanovski rapidly labored his means again as much as the toes. Because the spherical progressed, the gang loudened. Volkanovski’s technical hanging discovered extra success within the last minutes of the spherical, and was acknowledged by the Perth trustworthy upon the horn.

In Spherical 4, Makhachev returned to his roots when he accomplished a pristinely-timed takedown. Makhachev shifted to Volkanovski’s again and locked in a physique triangle. Makhachev managed Volkanovski however was unable to muster up a lot offense over the course of three minutes till the spherical ended. Within the last 30 seconds, nonetheless, a fired-up Volkanovski threw blind punches over his head, which linked on Makhachev’s face.

With the bout doubtlessly anybody’s initially of Spherical 5, the gang gave a standing ovation earlier than the ultimate body. Makhachev popped Volkanovski with a very good punch. The blow, which Volkanovski acknowledged, resulted in a reduce.

Makhachev shot for a takedown, however as soon as once more Volkanovski escaped. With every constructive motion by Volkanovski, the Perth crowd frenzied. One other takedown try by Makhachev was stuffed and Volkanovski clinched.

Because the clock ticked across the four-minute mark of the ultimate spherical, Volkanovski landed a punch that visibly rocked Makhachev and despatched him to the bottom. The group exploded as Volkanovski rained down ground-and-pound till the ultimate bell.

With consultants and followers alike uncertain of precisely which means the judges would lean, Makhachev’s title was introduced – and down got here the boos.