UFC 284: Volkanovski chases 'GOAT' status in promotion's grand return to Australia

Home hope looking to become just fifth fighter to hold two belts simultaneously against fellow pound-for-pound challenger Islam Makhachev

Alexander Volkanovski lands a punch on Max Holloway duriing their UFC featherweight title bout during UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Reuters

Max Holloway lands a punch on Alexander Volkanovski during their bout at during UFC 276. Reuters

Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway in action during their bout at UFC 276. Reuters

Alexander Volkanovski lands a punch on Max Holloway during their fight at UFC 276. Reuters

Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway trade shots during their bout at UFC 276. Reuters

Alexander Volkanovski punches Max Holloway in their featherweight title bout during UFC 276. Getty

Alexander Volkanovski exits the octagon after his unanimous decision win over Max Holloway. Getty

Alexander Volkanovski celebrates his unanimous decision win over Max Holloway at UFC 276. Getty

Alexander Volkanovski leaves the octagon after his unanimous decision win over Max Holloway. Getty

Israel Adesanya throws a punch at Jared Cannonier during their middleweight title fight at UFC 276. Reuters

Israel Adesanya lands a kick on Jared Cannonier during their bout at UFC 276. Reuters

Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier during their middleweight bout at UFC 276. Reuters

Israel Adesanya speaks to Joe Rogan after defeating Jared Cannonier at UFC 276. Reuters

Israel Adesanya celebrates after retaining his middleweight title against Jared Cannonier at UFC 276. AP

Israel Adesanya celebrates his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonie. Getty

Israel Adesanya exits the octagon after his unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier. Getty

Israel Adesanya makes his way to the octagon for his middleweight title bout against Jared Cannonier. Getty

Israel Adesanya prepares to enter the octagon for his middleweight title bout against Jared Cannonier. Getty

A match-up made in Abu Dhabi and transported to Perth has major fight feel.

On Sunday, Alex Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev headline the UFC’s grand return to Australia, in a bout that pits against one another the sport’s current No 1 pound-for-pound male athlete and its No 2.

Volkanovski, the lead light, resides as the UFC’s featherweight champion following four successful title defences; Makhachev the lightweight belt-holder after his dominant display against Charles Oliveira in the UAE capital last October.

For home hope Volkanovski, UFC 284 at the RAC Arena offers the chance to join a truly select band. In stepping up from 145lbs, the Australian can not only become the eighth two-division champion in UFC history, but the fifth to hold two belts simultaneously. To date, that elevated roll of honour reads Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier.

That Volkanovski agreed to the challenge speaks not only to a belief in his MMA acumen – he sits rightfully as the sport’s all-round active No 1 – but his ambition, also.

His credentials are obvious. His 22-fight win streak is the longest in MMA competition of any active UFC competitor. His sole professional defeat in 26 bouts came almost a full decade ago. And he is 12-0 since signing with the UFC, one of only four fighters to begin their career in the promotion with such a sequence.

Yet it is Volkanovski’s conviction to this particular cause that stands out. For most already the finest featherweight in UFC history, he has elected to test his talent at 155lbs, against the lightweight division’s newly minted champion and the long-touted heir apparent to Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Thus, “Alexander the Great” has an opportunity for “Greatest Of All Time” status. Unquestionably, victory on Sunday would rank among the most impressive in the UFC's near 30-year existence, albeit not its biggest shock – far from it, given Volkanovski’s calibre – even if he goes into the fight as underdog.

Volkanovski, 34, flew to Abu Dhabi in October not long after recovering from hand surgery, made weight as a potential replacement for Makhachev-Oliveira, before entering the octagon at Etihad Arena in the immediate aftermath of UFC 280 when the gauntlet was thrown down.

He sized up Makhachev, the scale of the assignment proposed, and accepted. Makhachev, remember, rides an 11-fight win streak – second only to Volkanovski – and boasts a 23-1 pro record. The solitary loss coming in late 2015. Justifiably, he is considered one of the sport’s most supreme wrestlers.

And that’s what makes Sunday’s showdown feel genuinely special. The top two in the pound-for-pound rankings, both seemingly at their peak, Volkanovski’s incredible striking against Makhachev’s irrepressible ground game.

Makhachev is viewed as favourite, since Volkanovski has jumped into what the Dagestani told The National last week marks a “new jungle”. At 31, Makhachev is tipped to reign for some time, billed as the continuation to Nurmagomedov's legacy.

Volkanovski, though, thrives in the underdog role. What's more, his back catalogue confirms he is too good to be underestimated, something that Makhachev will surely recognise. For both, the stakes are substantial.

But for Volkanovski, should he emerge victorious in front of his fans, he doesn't simply take a seat alongside McGregor, Nunes, Cejudo and Cormier at that exclusive table. He cements his place in the pantheon, too.