UFC 284 Results And Recap: Makhachev outscores Volkanovski to retain title; Rodriguez crowned interim champ

Islam Makhachev and Yair Rodriguez end UFC 284 as champions (Images: UFC Media)

Perth, February 12: One title was retained and one new interim champion was crowned in the headliner of the second numbered event of 2023 - UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski at the sold out RAC Arena in Perth, Australia on Sunday (February 12).

Capped off by an instant classic between the best MMA fighters on the planet, UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev and UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski, UFC 284 delivered a host of thrilling bouts.

The highest grossing event for any arena in Australia, saw 13 fights including two spectacular finishes from Thailand's Loma Lookboonmee and Fil-Aussie Josh Culibao.

Makhachev went on to dominate the main event to defend the lightweight championship against Volkanovski in the main event, while Yair Rodriguez submitted Josh Emmett to claim the interim UFC featherweight championship.

The main event fight between Makachev and Volkanovski earned the fight of the night bonus, while Rodriguez and Jack Della Maddalena pocketed an extra USD 50,000 as performance bonuses for their first-round submission wins.

Among the 13 fights, 6 were stoppage wins. And among the six, four were submissions and two were either knockouts (KO) or technical knockouts (TKO).

Here is a look at the UFC 284 results and recap:

UFC Lightweight Championship: Makhachev earns decision

Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski engaged in the fight for the UFC lightweight belt and #1 pound-for-pound bragging rights with an incredible back-and-forth display of the highest level skills.

The instant classic showcased both athlete's strong suits and the ability to negate them. Going all five rounds, the fight went to the judges, and Makhachev retained the UFC lightweight title.

After the title defence, Makhachev said, "This was a very good fight. He was a tough opponent and I need this to become a better fighter. I showed why I'm number one. He has good striking and grappling skills. You like it or you don't, I am the best fighter in the world right now. Thank you!"

UFC Interim Featherweight Championship: Rodriguez submits Emmett

Styles make for exciting fights, and Yair Rodriguez's creative striking against Josh Emmett's power punching lived up to the hype.

Then in the second round they turned the tables and hit the canvas, where Rodriguez was able to slap on a triangle and get the tap. Interim featherweight champion

After the first-round stoppage, Rodriguez said, "It means a lot, I've been dreaming of this moment for so many years, since I was a kid.

"I thank UFC for this opportunity, they believed in me since day one. We're a family, we're a team, and I'm glad to have been a part of this family for the past 10 years."

Other Main Card Action

Heavyweight Justin Tafa delivered a one punch KO to the chin of Parker Porter in just over one minute, saying "if you reach, I teach".

Also, Jack Della Maddalena increased his stock with a first-round finish of Randy Brown that began with a knock down and ended with a tap out.

In the main card opener, there was nothing to separate the two fighters as light heavyweights Jimmy Crute and Alonzo Menifield fought to a majority draw after earning the same points on the judges' scorecard.

Preliminary Card Action

As the fates would have it, Filipino-Australian Josh Culibao repeated Loma's game plan by playing a first round kicking game against Melsik Baghdasaryan, then submitting him by rear naked choke in round two.

Also, Kleydson Rodrigues stopped Shannon Ross under minute of the opening stanza in the Flyweight bout. Plus, Jamie Mullarkey and Modestas Bukauskas earned decision wins in their respective bouts.

Early Preliminary Card Action

Thailand's Loma Lookboonmee showed off her Muay Thai kicks, then stunned the crowd with a slam, back take and rear naked choke to tap out Elise Reed at the start of the second round.

That was the lone stoppage result in the early prelims as three other bouts went the distance.

Jack Jenkins, Blake Bilder and Elves Brenner were the three fighters that earned decision wins in their respective bouts on the early preliminary card.

UFC 284 Results

UFC 284 Main Card Results

1. UFC Lightweight Championship Bout: Islam Makhachev defeated Alexander Volkanovski by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)

2. UFC Interim Featherweight Championship Bout: Yair Rodriguez defeated Josh Emmett by submission (triangle choke) at 4:19 of Round 2

3. Welterweight Bout: Jack Della Maddalena defeated Randy Brown by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:13 of Round 1

4. Heavyweight Bout: Justin Tafa defeated Parker Porter by KO (left hand) at 1:06 of Round 1

5. Light Heavyweight Bout: Jimmy Crute and Alonzo Menifield battle to a majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)

UFC 284 Preliminary Card Results

1. Light Heavyweight Bout: Modestas Bukauskas defeated Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

2. Featherweight Bout: Joshua Culibao defeated Melsik Baghdasaryan by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:02 of Round 2

3. Flyweight Bout: Kleydson Rodrigues defeated Shannon Ross by TKO (strikes) at 0:59 of Round 1

4. Lightweight Bout: Jamie Mullarkey defeated Francisco Prado by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

UFC 284 Early Preliminary Card Results

1. Featherweight Bout: Jack Jenkins defeated Don Shainis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

2. Women's Strawweight Bout: Loma Lookboonmee defeated Elise Reed by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:44 of Round 2

3. Featherweight Bout: Blake Bilder defeated Shane Young by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

4. Lightweight Bout: Elves Brenner defeated Zubaira Tukhugov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Story first published: Sunday, February 12, 2023, 15:06 [IST]

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