UFC 284 LIVE: Volkanovski vs Makhachev stream, latest updates and result tonight
Re-live all the action after featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski challenged lightweight title holder Islam Makhachev, and Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett clashed for interim gold
Alexander Volkanovski came up agonisingly short in his bid to become a dual-weight champion at UFC 284, suffering a narrow decision loss to Islam Makhachev on Saturday.
Australian Volkanovski entered and exited the RAC Arena in Perth as featherweight champion, but the lightweight title eluded him as 155lbs champion Makhachev secured a unanimous-decision win in enemy territory.
Volkanovski had promised to disprove doubters who had claimed he was too small to compete with Makhachev, and the 34-year-old did just that, standing almost every time he was taken down – as he had said he would – reversing grappling positions along the fence, and twice dropping the Russian with punches. Makhachev also fought an impressive fight, however, securing some clinical takedowns and dropping Volkanovski to a knee at one point and wobbling the Australian with strikes elsewhere.
Many present in the arena felt that Volkanovski had done enough to dethrone Makhachev, but the scorecards read 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 in the Russian’s favour. In fact, Makhachev will have likely dethroned Volkanovski as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No 1 fighter come Monday morning, having entered UFC 284 at No 2.
In the co-main event, Yair Rodriguez claimed the interim featherweight title with a second-round submission of Josh Emmett, establishing himself as the next challenger to Volkanovski at 145lbs. Re-live updates and see results from the UFC 284 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 284 LIVE
Jimmy Crute vs Alonzo Menifield ends as majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28).
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 3
Crute takes the back and pours on punches.
We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards.
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 3
The crowd roars as Crute drives Menifield across the Octagon and lands a single-leg takedown!
Crute is into half-guard. Now side control. Menifield defends well against a Kimura, but he’s still heading towards a points loss here...
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 3
This has certainly been fight of the night so far.
Crute marches forward. Menifield just misses with a counter left hook.
Crute shoots for a double-leg takedown after backing up his opponent, but Menifield stuffs it well!
However, in the ensuing grappling exchange, Menifield grabs the fence and sees a point deducted by referee Marc Goddard! That’s a huge moment. Menifield likely needs a knockout now!
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 2
Crute gets a big takedown along the fence! What a fight this is.
Now the Aussie tries for a rear naked choke... Thirty seconds to go, can Menifield survive?
He gives the referee a thumbs-up and makes it to the buzzer!
“Jimmy” is the chant in Perth, though!
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 2
Again Menifield puts down Crute, but once more the Australian shows heart to stand against the fence.
There he eats a huge elbow, though. Now the pair move into space, and Menifield tags Crute with a clean one-two before stuffing a takedown attempt.
Big knee from Crute, but it’s only a brief really, before Menifield lights up the Aussie with straight punches!
UFC 284 LIVE
Menifield likely won that round, coming from behind. He was taken down twice and controllled early, but the American fought back and scored two knockdowns.
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 1
Crute briefly has a guillotine choke, but Menifield fights free! The light-heavyweights stand now and trade huge hooks!
A hurt and tired Crute falls back to the mat, and now Menifield is in control!
Crute turtles up and eats some punches on the mat. The Australian does well to stand, and another wild exchange ensues!!
Crute is knocked down again but just makes it to the buzzer!
UFC 284 LIVE
Crute vs Menifield – Round 1
Menifield is loading up on left hooks early on, but Crute secures a perfectly-timed double-leg takedown!
Menifield scrambles but is driven to the fence anyway. He eventually stands but is still being controlled by the Aussie, who soon lands another takedown.
Once more Menifield scrambles and finds himself being held against the cage wall.
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