Australian UFC star Alexander Volkanovski has lost no admirers after going the distance with Islam Makhachev in his bid to become a dual titleholder.
Vying to become the first Australian to simultaneously hold two UFC belts, Volkanovski could not overcome the lightweight champion in an enthralling title fight at a sold-out RAC Arena in Perth on Sunday.
Russian grappler Makhachev achieved multiple takedowns and withstood a final-round barrage to claim a unanimous points victory and seize the UFC's No.1 pound-for-pound ranking.
Wollongong-based featherweight champion Volkanovski had been attempting to become just the fifth UFC fighter to hold two titles at once.
It is his first defeat in the Octagon and just the second in a professional career in which he has notched 25 wins.
But the 34-year-old, who began training in martial arts while playing semi-professional rugby league and working as a concreter on NSW's south coast, showed plenty of heart against the UFC's most feared grappler.
Volkanovski spent much of the fourth round on the canvas resisting an attempted Makhachev chokehold but fed off the crowd's raucous support to finish strongly.
The points decision in Makhachev's favour was met with a chorus of boos after Volkanovski ended the fight on top of his prone opponent and landed several telling blows.
"I was never counting myself out, I was expecting to win so I'm disappointed. I knew I could have done more," Volkanovski told reporters.
"There were positions where I was like 'he's not strong' ... I didn't capitalise on it straight away which I should have, and I started realising that later on.
"I'll watch the fight, do some research but it's pretty clear that I could have won that fight. That's why I'm hard on myself."
Yair Rodriguez earlier dominated Josh Emmett in an interim featherweight title bout which establishes the Mexican as the No.1 contender to challenge Volkanovski once he drops back down in weight to defend his belt.
Volkanovski said Rodriguez was a deserving title contender but made it clear he also wanted a rematch with Makhachev.
"I want that f***ing lightweight belt," he said.
Hometown welterweight Jack Della Maddalena earlier brought the house down with a first-round submission victory over American Randy Brown.
Rising star Della Maddalena needed just two minutes 13 seconds to claim victory, knocking Brown to the ground with a fierce blow before applying a rear-naked chokehold which forced his opponent to tap.
The 26-year-old has scored first-round victories in each of his first four UFC bouts.
Brisbane heavyweight Justin Tafa needed just over a minute to knock out Parker Porter, while light heavyweight compatriot Jimmy Crute fought out an entertaining majority draw with America's Alonzo Menifield.
The show-stopping headline fight was deemed fight of the night, while Rodriguez and Della Maddalena earned performance bonuses.
The UFC said the card had drawn a box office of almost $6 million, making it the highest-grossing Australian arena event of any description.
