There has been some big news this week in the UFC as the main event bouts at UFC 294 later this month were shaken up by some changes in personnel. For your UFC 294 betting needs, SBS has you covered with this updated breakdown of the co-main events for the evening. What was supposed to be a UFC Lightweight Championship rematch between current champion Islam Makhachev and former champion Charles Oliveira, has now turned into another rematch, but with Alexander Volkanovski taking the place of Oliveira after the latter withdrew due to injury. Meanwhile, another matchup has been altered with Paulo Costa withdrawing due to surgery and Kamaru Usman taking his place in the bout against Khamzat Chimaev.
In this article, SBS will be going over some different UFC 294 betting notes like what to look for from each fighter along with a predicted winner in each fight and more notes about MMA wagering.
| UFC 294 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski | Makhachev | -255 | -255 | -255 |
| Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev | Chimaev | -280 | -280 | -280 |
Fighter Spotlight: Islam Makhachev
The reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, Makhachev is one of the most feared competitors in the sport. With a record of 24-1, he has one of the most impressive fighting totals of any competitor in the UFC. As noted in this space already, he is coming off a win against Volkanovski at UFC 284 where he won in unanimous decision fashion, defending his UFC Lightweight Championship. In a Fight of the Night bout, the Russian combatant was able to outlast his rival thanks to his usual flurry of sambo techniques and Judo styles. Recognized as a top-five fighter in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, he is familiar with Volkanovski so his prep for this fight should not alter too drastically.
Fighter Spotlight: Alexander Volkanovski
Another excellent fighter in the UFC, the Australian competitor is aiming for history at UFC 294 in this bout. The current UFC Featherweight Champion, will mark the first time that champions in different divisions rematch for the same title and the ninth overall that champions in different divisions fought for the same title, the last time occurring at UFC 284. If successful, Volkanovski will become the fourth man to be champion in two divisions simultaneously. Moreover, he might become the fifth fighter overall, as well as the eighth person overall to win a title in different divisions. With an overall mark of 26-2, aside from Makhachev, few have been able to slow down Volkanovski. A fighter with 13 knockout wins in his career, this should be an excellent rematch the MMA world has been waiting for.
Prediction: In what should be another instant classic, take Makhachev to win again here thanks to a battle-ready training regime and Volkanovski being called into the fight on short notice.
Fighter Spotlight: Kamaru Usman
In another turn of events, Usman replaces Costa in this fight that is also expected to serve as a UFC Middleweight title eliminator. The former UFC Welterweight Champion, Usman is looking for his first win since November of 2021 when he fought Colby Covington in a unanimous decision title defense of his Welterweight Championship. Since then, he went on to face Leon Edwards in two stellar bouts that both, unfortunately for Usman, ended with him losing to Edwards. That said, he is looking to right the ship as he squares off against Chimaev in the middleweight division on short notice.
Fighter Spotlight: Khamzat Chimaev
Our final fighter showcase, Chimaev is a Swedish fighter that is also one of the most dominant fighters in the promotion. With a perfect record of 12-0, this will be his first fight in over a year as he won a catchweight bout with Kevin Holland at UFC 279 with a brabo choke submission. An excellent combatant, he is a three-time Swedish National Champion in wrestling and has an awesome fighting repertoire thanks in part to his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While he has been sensational to this point, Usman presents the biggest challenge yet for Chimaev.
Prediction: Another close bout, give Chimaev the slight edge given his extensive prep for this fight and also no fighter being able to slow him down at this point.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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