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Daniel Cormier set to commentate teammate Islam Makhachev’s title fight at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi

Daniel Cormier set to commentate teammate Islam Makhachev's fight at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi Just as he did a year ago, former two-division champion, Daniel Cormier is set to serve as color-commentator for…

Just as he did a year ago, former two-division champion, Daniel Cormier is set to serve as color-commentator for this weekend’s UFC 294 lightweight title fight involving his close friend and American Kickboxing Academy training partner, Islam Makhachev.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight championship, will return to the Octagon this weekend atop UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE – in search of his third consecutive lightweight title fight victory.

Initially booking a lightweight title fight rematch with Charles Oliveira, Makhachev saw his re-run with the former champion fall to the wayside just 10 days’ out, after the Brazilian suffered a nasty cut over his right eyebrow, forcing him to withdraw from the clash.

However, in a quickfire turnaround, Makhachev will now face off with undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski – for the second time in as many fights, with the Australian replacing Oliveira and rematching Makhachev for lightweight gold.

The night’s co-headliner also saw a massive switch up too, with former middleweight champion, Paulo Costa ruled from a heated grudge match with the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev, after he developed a bursitis infection in his elbow.

Replacing Belo Horizonte native, Costa comes former welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, who clashes with Chimaev in a middleweight divisional bow – and subsequently, a title-eliminator clash at 185lbs.

Islam Makhachev’s UFC 294 return will be called by Daniel Cormier

And with Makhachev once more headlining at the Etihad Arena for the second year running, according to a report from MMA Junkie, the Russian’s former training partner and teammate at AKA, Hall of Fame inductee, Cormier will call the action from the commentary booth for his friend’s title fight rematch with Islam Makhachev.

#UFC294 commentary team, broadcast plans set: Daniel Cormier calls Islam Makhachev's title fight (via @MikeBohn) https://t.co/7mxk7vqcFo

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 17, 2023

Alongside Cormier serving as color-commentator, former lightweight contender and potentially soon-to-be-returning lightweight challenger, Paul Felder will serve in a three-man booth – alongside play-by-play lead, Jon Anik.

Who wins at UFC 294: Islam Makhachev or Alexander Volkanovski?

Kamaru Usman planning duel title run after UFC 294 fight return: ‘I’ve always wanted to be champ-Champ’

Slated to make a short-notice return to the Octagon next weekend in the co-main event of UFC 294, former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman has announced plans for reigns atop the middleweight limit, as well as at his prior stomping grounds, before then calling time on an already illustrious career. Usman, the current number one […]

Usman, the current number one ranked welterweight contender and former pound-for-pound number one, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he headlined UFC 296 back in March, suffering a majority decision loss to Leon Edwards in the pair’s championship trilogy rubber match in London.

However, booking a stunning turnaround on just 10 days’ notice this weekend at UFC 294, Auchi native, Usman takes on the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, in a middleweight divisional bow in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Furthermore, Usman’s route to another title siege under the promotion’s banner has been backed by UFC CEO, Dana White, who confirmed that either the Nigerian, or the above-mentioned, Chimaev would be vying for a middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland at UFC 294.

Kamaru Usman still plans to win titles in two divisions after UFC 294 return

Holding a unanimous decision win over Strickland during their early respective tenures under the UFC banner, Usman claimed it made sense for him to fight the newly-minted champion with a win over Chimaev, before searching for champ-champ status, and then hanging up his gloves.

“It’s a no-brainer because there’s just that element of story there, it’s built-in,” Kamaru Usman told TMZ during a recent interview. “Sean Strickland is champion, I’ve already taken care of him, not to say he’s not better, he is. But I’ve got a mountain in front of me that I’ve got to scale and climb, so let’s get through that fight then worry about what’s next. But it’s a no-brainer.”

“I might just mic-drop,” Kamaru Usman explained. “Grab the middleweight belt, go down, grab the welterweight belt, then mic-drop. What a way to go out, though? I want both. I’ve always wanted champ-champ (status), but what a way – to go get the top one, then come back down and get – no one’s ever done that. That would be crazy.”

Alexander Volkanovski won’t let judges get involved in Makhachev rematch: ‘I plan on knocking him out’

Featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski is ready to make the most of his short-notice opportunity at UFC 294. In February, Volkanvovski first met reigning lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, taking the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ to the limit and, in the eyes of many, doing more than enough to become a two-division champ. However, the […]

Featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski is ready to make the most of his short-notice opportunity at UFC 294.

In February, Volkanvovski first met reigning lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, taking the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ to the limit and, in the eyes of many, doing more than enough to become a two-division champ. However, the judges didn’t see it that way, awarding Makhachev the win via a questionable unanimous decision.

Eight months later, they will run back their Fight of the Year contender on October 21 as the UFC heads to Abu Dhabi. And this time, Volknanovski has no intention of letting the judges get involved.

“It’s going to be an exciting one,” Volkanovski said during a media scrum in Australia. “Obviously, I want to go out there and hurt him. We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go five rounds. I want to finish it early. I don’t want to test his gas tank. Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try and test it. Let’s just finish it nice and early.

“With how excited I am, how refreshed I am — both mentally and physically — I’m going to be a dangerous man in there. I plan on knocking him out” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski fight week!!

There first match is a fight of the year candidate!

So pumped to see their rematch this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/cRNOitpkoD

— Bry The MMA Guy (@BryTheMMAguy) October 15, 2023

Alexander Volkanovski Had No Hesitations About Taking Late-Notice Rematch

Originally, Makhachev was slated to face Charles Oliveira in another highly anticipated rematch, but after sustaining an injury while sparring, ‘Do Bronx’ was forced to withdraw, paving the way for Volkanovski to step in on 11 days’ notice. Asked if there was any hesitation on taking such a high-profile fight on less than two weeks’ notice, ‘The Great’ revealed that he never once wavered in his decision-making.

“I didn’t hesitate at all,” Volkanovski explained. “There was probably a smile on my face straight away and it was, ‘Oh, we’re going to do it,’ let the manager do his part with negotiations. He’s asking about the weight, ‘We’ll get it done, don’t worry about that.’ But I had a smile on my face.

“The next day, or couple of days, I literally just was laughing thinking how crazy this is, but happy at the same time. I think I needed this, to be honest.”

Since coming up short in their first meeting, Alexander Volkanovski has added another win to his resume, besting former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in a title unification clash at UFC 290. For Makhachev, it will be his first fight since facing Volkanovski earlier this year.

Kamaru Usman details how mega fight with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 got made: ‘No one talked me out of it’

Set to make an impromptu return to the Octagon next weekend in the co-main event of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE – former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman has detailed how exactly his blockbuster middleweight debut against the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev came to fruition as he prepares to jet out to the Middle East. […]

Usman, a former undisputed welterweight champion under the banner of the UFC and former pound-for-pound number one fighter on the promotion’s books, has been sidelined from the Octagon since suffering a trilogy rubber-match loss to Leon Edwards in a majority decision title fight defeat at UFC 286 back in March.

Initially announcing plans for a quickfire comeback to the sport following his decider loss to Edwards, Auchi native, Usman suggested a catchweight fight with the aforementioned, Chimaev in his return to the Octagon.

Instead, the promotion would book the Chechen-born finisher against former middleweight title chaser, Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 294 at the Etihad Arena.

And following the fallout of a lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, the latter’s compatriot, Costa was also forced off the billing, through a nasty bursitis infection in his elbow.

Kamaru Usman shares how fight with Khamzat Chimaev came about

As a result, the above-mentioned matchup of Usman and Chimaev has been added to UFC 294 on short-notice – with the former champion detailing how the matchup actually came to fruition just 10 days’ out.

“I’m excited right now about maybe winning the jackpot of a billion dollars in the lottery, you know,” Kamaru Usman told TMZ. “So, I’m excited. And I’m like, okay, let’s – first and foremost I always – I call my coaches and I throw the idea at them. And, no one talked me out of it.”

“So, I’m like, okay. I said, let me sleep on it,” Kamaru Usman explained. “‘Cause I don’t want to be hasty and do something unintelligent, so let me sleep on it. And I woke up the next day with let’s get ready. So I texted Ali (Abdelaziz) and said, ‘Let’s do this.’”

Who wins at UFC 294 next week: Kamaru Usman or Khamzat Chimaev?

Bo Nickal ‘Disappointed’ to miss UFC 294 fight with Khamzat Chimaev: ‘They don’t want me to smash their boy’

Undefeated wrestling ace, Bo Nickal has revealed he never received any contact from promotional brass regarding a potential slot-in, short-notice fight with Khamzat Chimaev next weekend at UFC 294 – claiming he would likely have “smashed” the Chechen-born finisher with ease. Nickal, a decorated amateur record, boasts an unbeaten 5-0 professional wrestler, landing a pair […]

Nickal, a decorated amateur record, boasts an unbeaten 5-0 professional wrestler, landing a pair of consecutive stoppage victories in two middleweight outings since landing in the UFC back in March of this year.

A product of Dana White’s Contender Series amid a pair of outings on the show, Nickal debuted with a first round arm-triangle submission win over Jamie Pickett, before stopping short-notice replacement Val Woodburn with a thunderous opening round TKO inside just 38 seconds back in July at UFC 290 during International Fight Week.

Requiring a replacement opponent ahead of his UFC 294 return next weekend in a co-headliner, Chimaev was originally slated to fight one-time title challenger, Paulo Costa, however, a bursitis infection ruled the Brazilian from the bout.

In place of Costa came former undisputed welterweight champion and former pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman – who makes his first outing at the middleweight limit, following a title fight loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 286 back in March.

Bo Nickal reveals no fight offer to meet Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294

However, despite calls from some fans for Chimaev to take on the above-mentioned Colorado uber-prospect, Nickal on just 10 days’ notice, the latter has revealed the UFC never approached him with an offer to fight the undefeated finisher.

“I was a little disappointed they [the UFC] didn’t ask me [to fight Khamzat Chimaev],” Bo Nickal said on his YouTube channel. “They didn’t ask me to step in there. I was expected at least an ask like, ‘Hey, do you want to do this?’ But no, just nothing. Nothing from the UFC, so it is what it is.”

“I’m guessing that they didn’t want me to roll over into Abu Dhabi on like 10 days’ notice and smash their boy in front of his home crowd or something,” Bo Nickal explained. “That’s a fight that needs to have a proper buildup and whatnot, so I get that. It was just interesting to me because I probably got today – I don’t even know how many comments and DMs and this and that.”

Would you like to see Bo Nickal fight Khamzat Chimaev in the future?

Charles Oliveira heralded for immediately exiting UFC 294 title fight amid injury: ‘You can’t compete like that’

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has been praised for his decision to withdraw from a scheduled title fight rematch with the incumbent, Islam Makhachev next weekend at UFC 294 by ex-champion, Michael Bisping. Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender, was scheduled to headline UFC 294 next weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE – […]

Oliveira, the current number one ranked lightweight contender, was scheduled to headline UFC 294 next weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE – taking on undisputed champion, Makhachev in a title re-run – a year after their first clash at the Etihad Arena.

However, forced out from his championship rematch with the Russian, Sao Paulo finishing ace, Charles Oliveira suffered a gruesome laceration over his right eyebrow in the final sparring session, before jetting out to the Middle East to prepare for his title fight.

Withdrawing from the bout, Brazilian fan-favorite, Oliveira has been replaced by undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski, who is set to land his own respective championship rematch with Makhachev, following a February decision loss to the American Kickboxing Academy staple.

Charles Oliveira praised for exiting UFC 294 title fight immediately

And despite claims from prominent mixed martial arts manager, Ali Abdelaziz that Oliveira won’t be fighting for a title in the future against Makhachev, color-commentator, Bisping has praised the Brazilian’s decision to exit the UFC 294 main event.

“If it is a bad cut two, three weeks away, two and a half weeks, yeah listen, you can’t compete like that,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “You can compete with injuries, but a huge cut on the eye, I mean, that’s going to be bad. It’s going to open up straight away and that’s going to be it. Or maybe he even gets out of there and the UFC pull him from the fight straight away.”

Earning a title fight rematch with Makhachev, Chute Boxe MMA staple, Oliveira most recently landed a first round ground strikes TKO win over the surging, Beneil Dariush back in June at UFC 289.

What’s next for Charles Oliveira after his UFC 294 title fight withdrawal?