5 frontrunners for Fight of the Night at UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski

The UFC returns to Australia this weekend. UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski will go down at the RAC Arena in Perth this Saturday, with two championship bouts and a number of explosive matchups on tap.

With a stacked fight card, sold-out arena and the famously raucous Australian fans cheering their compatriots on, this upcoming pay-per-view has a lot to offer. Looking at the mouth-watering matchups, there's going to be tons of competition for post-fight bonuses.

On that note, here are five frontrunners for Fight of the Night at UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski.

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#5. Tyson Pedro vs. Modestas Bukauskas

Tyson Pedro and Modestas Bukauskas have endured turbulent runs in the UFC so far.

Pedro joined the promotion with a perfect 4-0 record and bounced between wins and losses before injuries sidelined him for over four years. The Australian looks to be back to his best after two wins last year. On the flipside, Bukauskas was released in 2021, but bounced back with two wins in Cage Warriors, which saw him re-sign with the UFC.

The light heavyweight duo will square off against one another in the headlining bout on the preliminary card.

Tyson Pedro couldn't have asked for a better return from a lengthy hiatus. He made light work of Ike Villanueva and Harry Hunsucker in 2022, knocking out both fighters in the very first round. Since transitioning to the famed City Kickboxing gym, home to Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski, Pedro has looked unstoppable.

Modestas Bukauskas' style of fighting will complement Pedro's very well. The Lithuanian-Brit will be highly motivated to make a statement after being cut from the promotion in 2021 and a win over a popular fighter like Pedro will do wonders for his stock.

Both fighters are primarily strikers, which should make for an entertaining clash. Pedro and Bukauskas have been through a lot in their respective careers and will be highly motivated to get their hand raised this weekend.

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#4. Jimmy Crute vs. Alonzo Menifield

Jimmy Crute and Alonzo Menifield are on contrasting runs of form at the moment, with the former coming off two consecutive losses and the latter riding a two-fight win streak. With Crute looking to return to winning ways and Menifield eager to break into the light heavyweight top 15, this is certainly an intriguing matchup.

Jimmy Crute suffered back-to-back losses to Anthony Smith and Jamahal Hill last year, and opted to take a year-long hiatus from the sport to improve his skills. At the height of his powers, the Aussie 205-pounder is a menace on the feet and boasts a lethal submission arsenal as well.

Meanwhile, Alonzo Menifield is among the most potent knockout artists in the division. The hard-hitting American has 10 knockout wins on his record and is coming off first-round KO victories over Askar Mozharov and Misha Cirkunov. A win on Saturday will likely see 'Atomic' break into the top 15.

Crute holds the No.12 spot on the light heavyweight ladder. He will be looking to show off new additions to his game when he takes on the highly motivated Menifield, and as such, this bout is unlikely to go the distance.

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#3. Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski – UFC 284 main event

One of the most historic matchups in UFC history is set to headline the upcoming pay-per-view as pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski will look to become a two-division champion when he takes on lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

UFC 284 alternate poster [Image via @ufc on Instagram]

Alexander Volkanovski is really up against it heading into this massive title fight. 'The Great' is a sizeable betting underdog and rightfully so, given the stylistic matchup and the size of his counterpart. Islam Makhachev is certainly a formidable foe, and as seen by the odds, very few expect Volkanovski to come out on top.

Makhachev has the skillset and attributes to grind out a win, which might not be the most entertaining path to victory given his wrestling prowess. As such, the onus is on Volkanovski to make this fight competitive. The featherweight champion likely needs a perfectly executed gameplan to emerge victorious.

However, if there is one fighter you'd trust to execute a game plan, it is Volkanovski. The pound-for-pound king is cerebral in his approach and has proved that he isn't to be counted out against anyone. He will have to frustrate and systematically dismantle Makhachev to get the win and claim champ-champ status.

While this bout could play out as a one-sided wrestling masterclass in favor of Makhachev, Volkanovski has the mentality to rise to the occasion. If he manages to do so, expect a memorable clash between the two best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

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#2. Jack Della Maddalena vs. Randy Brown

Apart from the two title fights atop UFC 284, the featured bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Randy Brown has hardcore MMA fans licking their lips.

Perhaps the best unranked welterweights on the roster, Della Maddalena and Brown are supremely talented prospects and their bout is all but guaranteed to produce fireworks.

After earning a UFC contract in Dana White's Contender Series in 2021, Jack Della Maddalena has looked sensational with every passing bout. The Australian racked up three knockout wins last year to cement his standing as one of the best unranked 170-pounders around.

He is gearing up for the biggest test of his career when he squares off against Brown, who is among the tallest welterweights on the roster. 'Rude Boy' is a master at distance management and knows how to use his attributes effectively, making this a tricky hurdle for Perth native Della Maddalena.

Both welterweights are strikers at their core and it'll be interesting to see how Della Maddalena's crisp boxing works against an elusive kickboxer like Brown. Expect the victor to break into the welterweight top 15 very soon.

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#1. Yair Rodriguez vs. Josh Emmett – UFC 284 co-main event

Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett are arguably the two most entertaining featherweights in the world. With 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski trying his hand at champ-champ status, Rodriguez and Emmett will lock horns in an explosive matchup in the pay-per-view co-headliner, with interim gold up for grabs.

Yair Rodriguez is can't-miss TV. The flamboyant Mexican has never had a boring fight in his career and has showcased an astonishing variety of techniques so far. His kicking game stands above the rest of his skills, and every time 'El Pantera' goes airborne, a knockout isn't far away.

Speaking of knockouts, Josh Emmett has a real case for being the most powerful featherweight ever. The American possesses devastating fight-ending ability in his fists, and in his most recent performance against Calvin Kattar, showed that his powers carries into the later rounds as well.

Matchups don't get as high-octane as Rodriguez vs. Emmett. With a shot at undisputed gold on the line, this one could turn out to be a Fight of the Year contender.