UFC 294 takeaways: Makhachev ends the pound-for-pound debate, so what's next?
UFC 294 was a night of upsets and excitement, with Islam Makhachev's dominant victory over Alexander Volkanovski being the biggest story of the night. Makhachev's win puts him firmly in the conversation for the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and it leaves fans wondering what's next for the lightweight champion.
Here are some of the key takeaways from UFC 294:
Islam Makhachev is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world
There is no longer any doubt that Islam Makhachev is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. His victory over Alexander Volkanovski was simply dominant, and it showed that Makhachev can beat anyone in the world, regardless of weight class.
Makhachev's win over Volkanovski was also a statement to the rest of the UFC lightweight division. Makhachev is now the undisputed champion, and he is going to be very difficult to beat.
Alexander Volkanovski is still one of the best fighters in the world
Despite his loss to Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski is still one of the best fighters in the world. He is the UFC featherweight champion, and he has only lost two fights in his entire career.
Volkanovski will likely return to the featherweight division after his loss to Makhachev. However, if he wants to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight title again, he will need to make some adjustments to his game.
Khamzat Chimaev is a future UFC champion
Khamzat Chimaev continued his impressive rise through the UFC ranks with a dominant victory over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294. Chimaev is now one of the most feared fighters in the UFC, and he is a future champion.
Chimaev is likely to challenge for the UFC welterweight title in his next fight. He is the favorite to beat Leon Edwards, and he could become a double champion if he is successful.
What's next for Islam Makhachev?
The biggest question after UFC 294 is what's next for Islam Makhachev. He is now the undisputed UFC lightweight champion, and he has already beaten the two best fighters in the division.
There are a few options for Makhachev. He could defend his title against one of the top contenders in the lightweight division, such as Dustin Poirier or Beneil Dariush. He could also move up to the welterweight division and challenge for the title against Khamzat Chimaev.
Ultimately, the decision of what's next for Islam Makhachev is up to him. However, one thing is for sure: he is one of the best fighters in the world, and he is going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
Other takeaways from UFC 294
- Robert Whittaker is still a top contender in the middleweight division. Whittaker defeated Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 294, and he is now in line for a title shot against Israel Adesanya.
- Sean O'Malley is a rising star in the bantamweight division. O'Malley defeated Petr Yan in the featured prelim of UFC 294, and he is now one of the most popular fighters in the UFC.
- The UFC lightweight division is one of the most competitive divisions in the sport. There are a number of top contenders in the lightweight division, including Dustin Poirier, Beneil Dariush, and Justin Gaethje.
UFC 294 was a night of excitement and drama. Islam Makhachev's victory over Alexander Volkanovski was the biggest story of the night, but there were other notable performances as well. UFC 294 showed that the UFC is in a good place, and there are a number of exciting matchups on the horizon.