Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski have mutually consented to an immediate rematch after the outcome of their bout at UFC 284 was so contentious and controversial. Even after their five-round fight, the two men were spotted talking about it backstage, and they reportedly agreed that there should be a possible part two in Abu Dhabi.
UFC President Dana White is one of the many people who watched the bout and believes there should be a rematch. But, he does not intend to do so straight away, especially in light of Yair Rodriguez’s impressive victory against Josh Emmett in the co-main event.
“You know what my thoughts are on that when you make a super fight, could you possibly have a better f–ng result than we did on that fight? Right?” White said at the UFC Vegas 70 post-fight press conference on Saturday.
“When the entire world is arguing over who won, that’s a super fight and it delivers right? The only thing that could possibly be better than that is the guy who’s fighting for the interim title comes out looking incredible, too. So, now you got Yair versus Volkanovski.
“We’ll see what happens with Islam and where he ends up fighting next. You have to do Yair [next]. I mean, [Yair] came out and absolutely dominated a stud [in Josh Emmett] that night and then you have the rematch after they both fight again. You could not have a better result.”
White is looking at a variety of potential opportunities for Makhachev, but the UFC has not yet made any further moves in this situation.
“I mean, listen, I don’t know – we didn’t make any fights yet. here are a lot of different things that play out and making these fights, you know, timing injuries, personal stuff, whatever it might be.
“But yeah, to me, the fight that makes sense is we make Yair versus Volkanovski, Islam versus somebody whenever that happens, and then you do the rematch.”
UFC 288 will feature a lightweight co-main event between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, which was just booked by the promotion. This fight is a potential title eliminator and will likely determine Makhachev’s next opponent. The main event takes place on May 6 and features the rematch between bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and the fighter who defeated him previously, Henry Cejudo.