Islam Makhachev repeated the feat on Saturday and defeated Alexander Volkanovski again to defend lightweight gold in the UFC 294 headliner.
Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) added a second defense to his 155-pound title reign and a second win over featherweight champ Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) to his resume with a first-round kncokout victory in the main event rematch at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Makhachev’s title defense over Volkanovski at UFC 294.
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MMA Junkie
It's #UFC294 main event time! Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev the rematch is moments away!
Full coverage: https://t.co/V3zimpWFI4 pic.twitter.com/W9kxFmBQKR
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
UFC
Another shot at history awaits!@AlexVolkanovski enters for a chance at champ-champ status at #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/UxcTgvOUuz
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
UFC
Defending the throne once again!@MakhachevMMA looking to close the door on Volkanovski a second time here at #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/RmOfd3GyC4
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
UFC
THE REMATCH STARTS NOW! #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/YhbAGmLx6k
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
Kevin Iole
Islam shoots and Volk stuffs it. They're now against the Octagon
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 21, 2023
Cageside Press
R1 – Islam vs. Alex – Islam leg kick. Body kick. Alex waiting. Alex leg kick.
ISLAM SHOOTS!!!!! ALEX DEFENDING!!!! Islam puts him on the fence! Alex trying to reverse! HE DOES!!!!
Knee to the body from Islam. #UFC294
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) October 21, 2023
Mike Bohn
WOW! Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski in the first round. #AndStill. Incredible. #UFC294
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) October 21, 2023
Tracy Cortez
🤯🤯🤯 #UFC294
— Tracy Cortez’s ERA (@TracyCortezmma) October 21, 2023
Dan Tom
Smart of Makhachev to work the body so much and boom there’s a head kick just as I type this… boom. Fight over. #UFC294
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) October 21, 2023
Ariel Helwani
Islam wins via first-round TKO.
Clean head kick rocked Volk.
Finished him off with ground and pound.
No controversy this time. Very impressive.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 21, 2023
Conor McGregor
He was always susceptible to that vs a southpaw.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 21, 2023
Derek Brunson
That could be career changing !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) October 21, 2023
Casey O'Neill
Oh fuck, never expected a head kick ! #ufc294
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) October 21, 2023
Luke Thomas
Not a person in the world close to 155 pounds who can beat Islam Makhachev in 12 days notice.
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) October 21, 2023
Caposa
That is fucking nuts. Not much you can say about that one. Beautiful kick by Islam
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 21, 2023
Terrance McKinney
Islams that dude nasty head kick 🔥🔥🔥
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) October 21, 2023
UFC
ISLAM MAKHACHEV JUST KNOCKED OUT ALEX VOLKANOVSKI 😱😱 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/g4bsINLcKM
— UFC (@ufc) October 21, 2023
Mike Perry
Looked very sharp @MAKHACHEVMMA
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) October 21, 2023
Josh Thomson
My brother!!! 👏🏽🙌🏽 @MAKHACHEVMMA https://t.co/OvmhXlbhbj
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) October 21, 2023
Jake Paul
Islam ✅
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) October 21, 2023
Jimi Manuwa
Islam was better on the inside and on the outside. Chewed him up in the clinch then kod him when they broke off. What a fighter !! #ufc294
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
#UFC294 results: Islam Makhachev (@MakhachevMMA) def. Alexander Volkanovski via knockout (head kick, punches) – Round 1, 3:06 – to defend lightweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/V3zimpWFI4 pic.twitter.com/BVEbA1K4M0
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
UFC
Heart of a champion. 🤍 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/ivY70Qa14R
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 21, 2023
Italo Santana
GOOD FUCKING LORD, ISLAM MAKHACHEV KNOCKS OUT VOLKANOVSKI!!! #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/Xdc0kjqZic
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) October 21, 2023
Megan Anderson
Nooooo 😭😭😭 sad to see Volk lose like that #UFC294
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) October 21, 2023
John Gooden
That kick was absolutely perfect. Congrats Makhachev #UFC294
— John Gooden (@JohnGoodenUK) October 21, 2023
ESPN MMA
NO DOUBT 🤫 #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/0bYukRzIa3
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 21, 2023
Alan Jouban
Volk hasn’t even left the cage yet after a KO loss and is already asking the UFC you please keep him busy. What a stud!!!#UFC294
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) October 21, 2023
Gilbert Burns
Wow
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) October 21, 2023
Jake Paul
Usman and Volk saved the event and took L’s. Hopefully UFC paid them double for saving the entire event.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) October 21, 2023
Max Holloway
This sport is crazy. #UFC294
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
A distraught Alexander Volkanovski sorts through his emotions as he exits the octagon after his KO loss in the #UFC294 main event. pic.twitter.com/0XmTgardR6
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
The #AndStill champion Islam Makhachev exits the cage after #UFC294 following a spectacular KO to defend his title. pic.twitter.com/MMlDIwj3YE
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
UFC
The champs ready for his next challenger 😤🏆 @MakhachevMMA | #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/yAeRpfEdQg
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) October 21, 2023
Rafael dos Anjos
Looking at lightweight ranking I don’t see anyone other than me to beat Islam and he knows that #UFC294
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) October 21, 2023
Islam Makhachev
And STILL… Thanks to all my fans around the world for all the support. @ufc pic.twitter.com/GzVQqLA08e
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) October 21, 2023
Justin Gaethje
I’m next
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) October 21, 2023
Justin Gaethje
Heck of a performance by Islam. I have a mountain to climb.
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
Dana White was impressed by Islam Makhachev's "Cro Cop-esque" head kick knockout of Alexander Volkanovski and "setting the record straight" at #UFC294.
Full video: https://t.co/5dDMjBkfXC pic.twitter.com/mKxC5sp6SX
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
Alexander Volkanovski says he was unexpectedly hesitant in his #UFC294 rematch with Islam Makhachev.
"It was like I was waiting for something. I was like, 'All right, I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go.' And then he got me."
Full video: https://t.co/4aBhiqzgWp pic.twitter.com/MkvQXAHIn8
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
Alexander Volkanovski held back tears reflecting on his decision to fight Islam Makhachev on short notice at #UFC294 and why he felt he had to do it once he was offered. 😔
Full video: https://t.co/4aBhiqzgWp pic.twitter.com/s5wQP9wvvg
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
"I am best MMA fighter in the world."
Islam Makhachev says his KO of Alexander Volkanovski puts him on a different level.#UFC294 | Full video: https://t.co/HrPkOisc9y pic.twitter.com/30Eg4i6LvV
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
MMA Junkie
"Stand with Palestine. We're with you."
Islam Makhachev explains the motivation behind his #UFC294 in-cage interview.
Full video: https://t.co/HrPkOisc9y pic.twitter.com/YEfBSVFugf
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 21, 2023
Conor McGregor
A difficult sport to ref. To stop that on a warning or a point deduction when volk was essentially out already is a tricky one. But there would be grounds for it, 100%. Would have been nail biting stuff. I’d have loved to see it happen. Back of the head shots are not good. https://t.co/AdrrmGmmS5
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 21, 2023
Michael Chandler
12 month plan…KO Conor and KO Islam. I’ve calibrated to right where I need to be. Settled in. See you soon boys.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) October 21, 2023
