Expect fireworks Saturday in the main event of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi as lightweight champion Islam Makhachev runs it back against featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski in a rematch of their Fight of the Year candidate earlier this year. The two champions went toe-to-toe at UFC 284 on Feb. 11 in Australia, but it was Makhachev who won the closely contested matchup by unanimous decision and retained his lightweight title.
On Saturday, Volkanovski will get another shot at becoming a two-division champion after Makhachev’s original opponent, Charles Oliveira, pulled out due to a cut he suffered in training. Volkanovski told Yahoo Sports he accepted the fight on just 11 days’ notice so that one day his “picture will be hanging on people’s walls.”
The co-main event also features a short-notice replacement with former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who stepped in for the staph-infected Paolo Costa, facing the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at 180 pounds. Usman will be making his middleweight debut after accepting the Chimaev bout on just 10 days’ notice.
Stay tuned to Yahoo Sports and follow our live tracker below for all the news and results from the stacked card.
UFC 294 live results, highlights, analysis
How to watch UFC 294 without cable:
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Stream UFC 294 through TNT Sports and save on PPV with ExpressVPN
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023
Prelims time: 10 a.m. ET
Main card time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
TV: PPV
Streaming: ESPN+ PPV
Where to stream UFC 294
(Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
For ESPN+ subscribers, UFC 294 is available to purchase through ESPN+ for $80. If you aren’t already subscribed to ESPN+, new users can bundle UFC 294 in with the cost of an annual subscription for a 30% discount, bringing your total to $124.98. UFC 294 prelims will be available to stream at no extra cost to ESPN+ subscribers. An ESPN+ subscription starts at $10 a month and grants you access to exclusive ESPN+ content, including all UFC PPV prelims, other live events, fantasy sports tools and premium ESPN+ articles.
$80 at ESPN+
How to watch UFC 294 without ESPN+ or paying for PPV in the US:
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ExpressVPN offers “internet without borders,” meaning you can tune in to a much more affordable UFC livestream this weekend as opposed to paying that high PPV price. In the UK, many UFC events are broadcast live on TNT Sports and don’t require you to purchase the fight through PPV. A contract-free subscription to BT TV (which includes TNT Sports) costs about $49 per month, and paired with a VPN, will let you livestream this Saturday’s fight on TNT Sports at a major discount. ExpressVPN’s added protection, speed and range of location options makes it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities, plus, it’s Endgadget’s top pick for the best streaming VPN. New users can save 35% and get an extra three months free when they sign up for ExpressVPN’s 12-month subscription. Plus, the service offers a 30-day money back guarantee.
$56 at ExpressVPN
UFC 294: Volkanovski vs. Makhachev, results, odds (subject to change)
Main card (Start time 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)
• Lightweight championship: Islam Makhachev (C) (-275) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (+225)
• Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev (-320) vs. Kamaru Usman (+250)
• Light heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev (-360) vs. Johnny Walker (+280)
• Middleweight: Warlley Alves (+450) vs. Ikram Aliskerov (-650)
• Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov (-225) vs. Muin Gafurov (+185)
Prelims (Live now on ESPN+)
• Flyweight: Tim Elliott (+340) vs. Muhammad Mokaev (-450)
• Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (+135) vs. Trevor Peek (-165)
• Bantamweight: Javid Basharat (-600) vs. Victor Henry (+425)
• Middleweight: Abu Azaitar (+185) vs. Sedriques Dumas (-225)
• Lightweight: Mike Breeden (+225) vs. Anshul Jubli (-275)
• Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov def. Nathanial Wood by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Women’s strawweight: Viktoriia Dudakova def. Jinh Yu Frey by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Middleweight: Shara Magomedov def. Bruno Silva by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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Stream UFC 294 through TNT Sports and save on PPV with ExpressVPN
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