Reigning featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski faced lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the headlining bout of UFC 284 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
‘The Great’ entered as a big underdog opposite Makhachev in his quest to achieve ‘double-champ’ status. He put in a tough performance to go the distance. Eventually, Makhachev managed to edge him out on the judges’ scorecards by unanimous decision. Following the outcome, reactions from the MMA community came flooding in.
MMA Twitter reacts to Islam Makhachev’s win over Alex Volkanovski at UFC 284
Current UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling chimed in:
“We got ourselves a fight here lads! Islam up 2 rounds. Not completely out of this but is for sure getting hurt when he tries to close the distance. Islam seems to be seeing when Volk is gonna blitz in. #UFC284”
Former two-division champion-turned-analyst Daniel Cormier shared his reaction:
“This crowd is on fire !!!!! #UFC284,” he continued. “That was a bad scorecard. 3-2 Volk lost nothing tonight. He fought better than anyone thought he could. He is as good as anyone at any weight in the world. Great fight overall.”
That was a bad scorecard. 3-2 Volk lost nothing tonight. He fought better than anyone thought he could. He is as good as anyone at any weight in the world. Great fight overall https://t.co/vsNmW7blvT
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) February 12, 2023
UFC Asia wrote:
“Pushing the lightweight champ to his limits! Hats off to @AlexVolkanovski for putting up one hella performance! #UFC284”
Pushing the lightweight champ to his limits! 😤
Hats off to 🏆@AlexVolkanovski for putting up one hella performance! #UFC284 pic.twitter.com/fHUzoTQT1Q
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) February 12, 2023
UFC star Muhammad Mokaev tweeted:
“Congratulations champ [Makhachev]”
UFC wrote:
“The new world P4P #1 and NOBODY can take that away from.”
The new world P4P #1 and NOBODY can take that away from @MakhachevMMA 💪 #UFC284 pic.twitter.com/FLoq82H05E
— UFC (@ufc) February 12, 2023
Kenny Florian chimed in:
“Hard to tell if Volk is watching his work a bit after he lands (dropping his hands) or if he’s keeping them low to get inside position/under hooks. Great fight so far.”
“Volk deserves a rematch if he wants it. Have a great night everybody! See you on @anikflorianpod there’s much to talk about. That was a brilliant superfight.”
Hard to tell if Volk is watching his work a bit after he lands (dropping his hands) or if he’s keeping them low to get inside position/under hooks. Great fight so far.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) February 12, 2023
Former UFC star Nate Diaz weighed in:
“Yeah right Islam got his asss whooped”
Yeah right Islam got his asss whooped
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) February 12, 2023
Former UFC two-division champ Henry Cejudo commented:
“Respect @MAKHACHEVMMA @alexvolkanovskiThat was one of the most competitive fights in the history of the sport. Islam needs to press and be more aggressive with his takedown attempts. Use the cage. #UFC284”
Islam needs to press and be more aggressive with his takedown attempts. Use the cage. #UFC284
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) February 12, 2023
More fighters and members weighed in on the result
Former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt shared his thoughts:
“Let’s run it back !!! Would love to see this fight again !!”
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega wrote:
“What a fucken fight!!!”
What a fucken fight!!! @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) February 12, 2023
Former UFC champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk weighed in:
“#ufc284 what a round for @alexvolkanovski”
UFC Aus/NZ captured Israel Adesanya’s reaction:
“Yep, @Stylebender is all of us right now!”
Yep, @Stylebender is all of us right now! #UFC284 pic.twitter.com/UEosdTrK2i
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) February 12, 2023
UFC middleweight Derek Brunson wrote:
“Bisping said beautiful left hand from the champ … ain’t they both champs“
Bisping said beautiful left hand from the champ … ain’t they both champs 😂😂😂 #UFC284
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 12, 2023
Kevin Iole commented:
“NIce left by VOlk and big right by Islam hurts him”
Marvin Vettori weighed in:
“This fight is crazy”
This fight is crazy #UFCPerth
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) February 12, 2023
Teddy Atlas shared his thoughts:
“Great round, great fight, exactly what a fight representing the 2 best should be. #UFC284”
Great round, great fight, exactly what a fight representing the 2 best should be. #UFC284
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) February 12, 2023
Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera chimed in:
“You call out the little guy. The little guy might kick ya ass.”
You call out the little guy. The little guy might kick ya ass
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) February 12, 2023
Stephen Thompson wrote:
“What a fight. I think that round goes to volk! 2-1 Islam #UFC284. Man oh man. They are also in Australia…know what I mean…judging #ufc284”
What a fight. I think that round goes to volk! 2-1 Islam #UFC284
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) February 12, 2023
Michael Chiesa weighed in:
“VVVVOOOOLLLLKKKK!!!!!!!!! This is crazy!!!!! #UFC284”
VVVVOOOOLLLLKKKK!!!!!!!!! This is crazy!!!!! #UFC284
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) February 12, 2023
