UFC 294: Alexander Volkanovski Replaces Charles Oliveira in Title Match vs. Islam Makhachev

UFC 294 will feature a surprise rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title.

UFC 294 is set to showcase an unexpected twist in the lightweight title rematch. Charles Oliveira, the former champion who was initially scheduled to face Islam Makhachev in an attempt to reclaim his lost belt, has been replaced. Stepping into the octagon is none other than UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who will once again challenge Makhachev and seek vengeance for his sole UFC career defeat.

The announcement of this change came on Tuesday night, a mere two weeks prior to the event's scheduled date of October 21st. UFC president Dana White himself confirmed the news, shedding light on the reason behind Oliveira's withdrawal. It was revealed that Oliveira had suffered a cut in his eyebrow, rendering it impractical for him to proceed. White expressed his dissatisfaction with Oliveira's team for attending to the stitches themselves, rather than seeking assistance from the promotion's medical team.

In contrast, White commended Volkanovski and his team for accepting the fight on such short notice, praising them as "absolute studs." Interestingly, the UFC had already designated Mateusz Gamrot as the official backup fighter. However, the promotion made the decision to opt for a rematch between its second and third-ranked pound-for-pound fighters.

Volkanovski's most recent victory came three months ago when he secured a third-round TKO against Yair Rodríguez, successfully defending his featherweight belt at UFC 290. Previously, in February, he had challenged Makhachev for the lightweight belt, engaging in an electrifying battle that resulted in a unanimous decision loss.

This turn of events is undeniably devastating for Oliveira. He officially lost his belt a year and a half ago due to a weight miss in a title defense against Justin Gaethje. Following his dominant performance against Gaethje, Oliveira faced Makhachev in a bid to claim the vacant belt but was met with a second-round submission defeat. Although he rebounded with a victory over Beneil Dariush, positioning himself for a rematch, Oliveira will now have to patiently await another opportunity to prove himself.

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