Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski are set to fight early next year.
The UFC has confirmed that featherweight champion Volkanovski (25-1) will come up in weight to challenge the newly crowned lightweight champion at UFC 284 on February 12th in Perth, Australia (airing on February 11th in North America).
Makhachev (23-1) unseated Charles Oliveira last month at UFC 280 to win the 155-pound title with Volkanovski entering the octagon to indicate they two would be fighting next.
Volkanovski, 34, has not lost a fight in nearly ten years and is unbeaten since entering the UFC in six years ago. He won the 145-pound title from Max Holloway at UFC 245 in December 2019 and has defended the title four times, most recently scoring his third win against Holloway at UFC 276 in July.
The only blemish on Makhachev’s record occurred in his second UFC fight where he was stopped by Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in October 2015. He has won his last eleven fights.
UFC 284 takes place at the RAC Arena in Perth.
