Volkanovski's bid for 2nd belt slated for UFC 284

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski volition officially determination up successful value to situation lightweight champion Islam Makhachev for a 2nd rubric astatine UFC 284 connected Feb. 11 successful a combat that could find the No. 1 pound-for-pound combatant successful the world.

UFC officials announced the lightweight rubric combat Saturday. UFC 284 volition instrumentality spot successful Perth, Australia, which is Volkanovski's location country. It is the archetypal clip the UFC has booked a combat betwixt 2 progressive champions, excluding interim champions, since March 2021.

Volkanovski (25-1) said this week helium is already eating 4,000 calories per time successful anticipation of the move. He and Makhachev (23-1) squared disconnected instantly pursuing Makhachev's rubric triumph implicit Charles Oliveira astatine UFC 280 past period successful Abu Dhabi.

It's a matchup some champions expressed involvement successful from the start. Volkanovski has been an progressive champion astatine 145 pounds, and believes nary azygous featherweight contender has acceptable himself isolated capable to warrant a rubric shot. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is Makhachev's manager and longtime teammate, said helium wanted Makhachev to look Volkanovski successful his archetypal rubric defense, and helium wanted it to instrumentality spot successful Perth.

ESPN ranks Volkanovski and Makhachev the Nos. 1 and 3 pound-for-pound fighters successful the world. Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who volition support his UFC rubric against Alex Pereira connected Saturday successful New York, is ranked No. 2.