5 questions that will be answered at UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski

The second UFC pay-per-view of 2022 is underway in Perth, Australia, this weekend. UFC 284 will go down in the sold-out RAC Arena on Saturday and features a litany of Australian talent.

Current pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski will look to make history when he takes on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event, in pursuit of double-champ status. In the co-headliner, Volkanovski's next opponent will be awarded an interim title as Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett are set to collide.

UFC 284 fan-made poster [Image via @sulimanfsmf on Twitter]

With two championship fights and a number of exceptional matchups set to go down at the upcoming pay-per-view, this weekend's fight card offers a little something for everyone.

With that said, here are five questions that will be answered at UFC 284: Volkanovski vs. Makhachev.

#5. Which up-and-coming Aussie fighters will shine at UFC 284?

UFC 284 features a solid mix of up-and-coming fighters and Australian talent. With such a historic main event on tap, expect the fighters on the undercard to be eager to make a name for themselves and potentially steal the show.

Aussie light heavyweight contenders Jimmy Crute and Tyson Pedro will take on Alonzo Menifield and Modestas Bukauskas respectively. City Kickboxing's Shane Young is set to return to action at the pay-per-view against promotional debutant Blake Bilder. Alexander Volkanovski's teammate Jamie Mullarkey will also feature at UFC 284 opposite unbeaten Argentine Francisco Prado.

Elsewhere on the undercard, two Aussie graduates from the latest season of Dana White's Contender Series, Jack Jenkins and Shannon Ross, will make their UFC debuts on Saturday.

UFC 284 undercard fights [L-R Clockwise images via @iridiumsportsagency, @jimmycruteufc, @joshculibao, @ap.sportsmgmt, @shannonrossmma, @pharjack & @franciscoprado.mma on Instagram]

Of course, the most notable Australian prospect to watch out for is Jack Della Maddalena. More on him below...

#4. Just how good is Jack Della Maddalena?

Apart from the two title fights at UFC 284, all eyes are on surging welterweight and Perth native Jack Della Maddalena, who is set for a massive homecoming at the RAC Arena on Saturday.

With three impressive knockout wins in just as many octagon appearances last year, Della Maddalena was among the top prospects of 2022. He even won ESPN MMA's Rookie of the Year award for his scorching run of form.

There's no denying that Jack Della Maddalena has done very well with the level of opposition he's faced so far. His next bout, however, will serve as a real indicator of his potential. The Australian will take on Randy Brown on the main card of the upcoming pay-per-view.

Brown could prove to be a very challenging matchup for Della Maddalena. 'Rude Boy' is taller and has a reach advantage over his Aussie counterpart, and perhaps more importantly, he knows how to use his attributes to his advantage. Both fighters are among the best unranked welterweights on the roster.

If Maddalena emerges victorious, it'll serve as a real statement of intent. If he secures another finish, we could well have a championship caliber prospect on our hands.

#3. Who will contest Alexander Volkanovki's UFC featherweight title next?

With featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski set to contest the lightweight title at UFC 284, the promotion put together an interim title fight to determine who Volkanovski will face when he returns to the 145-pound division.

Top-ranked featherweights Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett will collide in a mouthwatering matchup in the co-main event of the upcoming pay-per-view.

Arguably the most explosive fight on the card, Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett is all but guaranteed to produce fireworks. Both featherweights are among the most watchable fighters on the roster and their clashing styles should blow the roof off the RAC Arena in Perth.

Rodriguez is known for his flamboyant style and acrobatic kicks. 'El Pantera' is no slouch on the ground either and possesses an incredibly dangerous guard as well. Meanwhile, Emmett boasts devastating one-punch knockout power in his fists and can end the fight at any given moment.

At 37, this is likely Emmett's last chance to earn a shot at undisputed gold and he will be highly motivated to get his hand raised. For Rodriguez, it will be a chance to finally deliver on his potential, become the second Mexican champion in UFC history and book a meeting with Alexander Volkanovski later this year.

#2. Will Islam Makhachev become the new No.1 pound-for-pound king?

Islam Makhachev's road to the lightweight title was far from easy as the Russian struggled to find willing opponents, just like his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. A breakthrough year in 2021, comprising three submission wins on the trot, saw Makhachev break into the top tier of the division.

At UFC 280 last year, he dominated Charles Oliveira en route to a second-round submission win, extending his win streak to 11.

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In just a matter of two years, Islam Makhachev will go from being an unranked lightweight to potentially the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The majority of the MMA community is backing him to emerge victorious against Alexander Volkanovski this weekend, owing to the stylistic matchup.

Like most of his Dagestani brethren, Makhachev boasts phenomenal wrestling skills. Additionally, his striking has improved leaps and bounds since his solitary loss back in 2015 and he is now, statistically, the least hit fighter on the roster.

If Makhachev uses his tools efficiently against the smaller Volkanovski, he will not only defend his title but also claim his Aussie counterpart's status as the pound-for-pound king. Khabib Nurmagomedov notably retired as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and his protégé is eager to follow in his footsteps.

#1. Can Alexander Volkanovski cement his standing as an all-time great?

Only four fighters have held two belts simultaneously in the UFC – Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo. In the upcoming pay-per-view headliner, Alexander Volkanovski will look to join this illustrious list as he fights for the lightweight strap against Islam Makhachev on home soil.

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Only Amanda Nunes has been able to defend both her belts, largely because the women's featherweight division is essentially non-existent. Alexander Volkanovski not only wants to become a champ-champ, but is also looking to remain active in both featherweight and lightweight.

Volkanovski could've opted to continue defending his featherweight title and remained atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Aussie phenom is taking a massive risk in accepting a fight with Islam Makhachev, the best lightweight in the world.

Unbeaten in the UFC, Volkanovski is putting his staggering 22-fight win streak on the line in pursuit of making history. Moreover, he's carrying the weight of expectations of an entire nation and will be headlining an event in his own country for the very first time.

This is a high stakes matchup unlike anything we've ever seen. If Volkanovski somehow pulls it off, he will have vaulted his name into the MMA GOAT and Mount Rushmore debates, and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the famed octagon.

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski alternate poster [Image via @ufc on Instagram]