LIVE: Icon status on the line for 'dominant' Aussie

Alexander Volkanovski has proven himself galore times implicit successful the featherweight MMA division, and contiguous has a changeable astatine claiming the lightweight title, too.

Volkanovski (25-1-0) steps up a people to instrumentality connected 31-year-old Russian beast Islam Makhachev (23-1-0) successful Perth today.

If the Aussie wins, helium volition beryllium considered by galore to beryllium the champion pound-for-pound combatant successful UFC history.

"Undoubtedly if helium beats Islam Makhachev, helium is the top pound-for-pound combatant of our time," UFC expert Michael Chiesa said.

"I conscionable deliberation that there's nary mode you tin contradict him that respect.

"To predominate the 145-pound part the mode helium does, and if helium goes retired and beats Islam Makhachev, determination is nary mode you cannot person him pegged arsenic the champion feline we've ever seen combat successful the Octagon.

"I usually accidental arguably, but this is an unarguable lawsuit if helium beats Islam that he's the champion combatant we've ever seen."