Volkanovski loses title fight in Perth thriller

By Simon Brunsdon and Emily Patterson

Australia's Alexander Volkanovski has mislaid his champion pound-for-pound stature aft being defeated by Islam Makhachev via unanimous determination successful the main lawsuit of UFC 284 successful Perth.

Battling a size disadvantage, Volkanovski proved that if helium got knocked down helium could get backmost up.

However, Makhachev's other 10 centimetres and 4 kilograms made him excessively almighty successful the end.

Volkanovski's grappling defence was connected afloat show - forcing the combat to spell the afloat 5 rounds.

Alexander Volkanovski aft his rubric combat successful Perth. (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Makhachev willed to get Volkanovski to the canvas and wrestle, but Volkanovski worked hard to get to his feet to propulsion fists and knees.

In the archetypal round, some fighters danced astir each different before Volkanovski made the archetypal complaint with a large near punch.

As the combat dramatically flipped betwixt periods of grappling and a flurry of hits, the vantage swung betwixt some fighters.

To extremity the 4th round, Makhachev pinned Volkanovski down, holding him successful presumption for astir 3 minutes.

Needing a large last round, Volkanovski finished stronger aft dropping Makachev and pounding him connected the canvas.

But connected the scorecard, Makachev had it by unanimous decision, 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.

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Where are they now? The Essendon 34 a decennary connected from the saga that defined them