After a great event at UFC 283, the promotion stays on the road as the UFC heads to Australia for UFC 284 in Perth. In the main event of the evening, current UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev is set to square off with current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. Per one source, this will be the eighth time in the promotion’s history that champions in different divisions will fight for the same title. In addition to the spectacular championship main event, a bout for the interim UFC Featherweight Championship is set to go down between Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett. For your UFC 284 betting needs, SBS has your back with a breakdown of these two stellar main-event battles.
Below, SBS will be going over what to look for from each fighter, predictions for each fight, and some more notes about UFC 284 betting.
| UFC 284 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makhachev vs. Volkanovski | Makhachev | -350 | -350 | -350 |
| Rodriguez vs. Emmett | Rodriguez | -155 | -155 | -155 |
Fighter Spotlight: Islam Makhachev
One of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC, Makhachev has not lost since UFC 192 and is currently riding an 11-fight win streak. Coming off a classic bout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280, the 31-year-old is in the prime of his career and is doing an excellent job of taking on all opponents. Truly one of the most well-rounded performers in the promotion, Makhachev has won the majority of his fights via submission, with an astounding 11 tapout victories.
In fact, in his last five fights, Makhachev has won four bouts via submission ranging from the first round (Dan Hooker, kimura) to the fourth round (Drew Dober, arm-triangle choke). Currently, with the third-longest win streak in UFC Lightweight division history, the 31 champion has the motor and mindset to burn past most opponents.
Fighter Spotlight: Alexander Volkanovski
Currently recognized as the No. 1 fighter in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, Volkanovski will serve as an excellent foil for Makhachev in Perth. As referenced above, the Australian fighter is also the UFC Featherweight champion and should relish a return battle and an opportunity to fight in front of his home crowd. A fighter with an extremely impressive resume just like his opponent (25-1), Volkanovski has won the majority of his fights via knockout (12), but has had decision victories in four of his last five bouts. With four featherweight title defenses to his credit, this is perhaps the champion’s biggest test yet as he goes up a weight class against Makhachev.
Prediction: This should be an excellent battle and perhaps an early contender for fight of the year if both men are at the top of their game. That said, going up a weight class for Volkanovski will be especially challenging here given the expertise displayed by the champion Makhachev and his ability to avoid significant strikes. Take the latter to win here.
Fighter Spotlight: Yair Rodriguez
In the penultimate contest of the evening, Rodriguez squares off with Emmett for the interim featherweight crown. A savvy veteran in the division, Rodriguez currently holds a record of 14-3 and has won six of his bouts by way of decision. In his last matchup, the 30-year old took on Brian Ortega last July and was able to best his opponent after Orega suffered a shoulder injury. Prior to that though, Rodriguez had turned in three Fight of the Night performances out of his last four clashes. Indeed, this matchup with Emmett will definitely go a long way in establishing himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
Fighter Spotlight: Josh Emmett
The No. 5 ranked fighter in the UFC featherweight rankings, Emmett is another veteran of the sport that has competed in various promotions beyond the UFC like King of the Cage. Coming off a fantastic Fight of the Night performance over Calvin Kattar back in June of last year, the 35-year-old from Menlo College now has a total record of 18-2. Since falling to Jeremy Stephens back in February of 2018, Emmett has rattled off five consecutive wins, including two by way of KO or TKO. While he is coming off a split decision victory, Emmett should be well-rested or this upcoming clash “Down Under.”
Prediction: Definitely an interesting clash, this one should go down to the wire, but Rodriguez has the slight edge here given his stronger strength of schedule.
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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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