Skip to main content

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 Predictions, Picks & Odds: Volkanovski seeks revenge

Themi Alexis

Last Updated: October 21, 2023 3:34 PM EDT • 2 min 55 sec read.

Islam Makhachev reacts after defeating Charles Oliveira in the lightweight championship as we look at our Machachev vs. Volkanovski 2 predictions.
Islam Makhachev reacts after defeating Charles Oliveira in the lightweight championship at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 22, 2022. Photo by Giuseppe CACACE via AFP.

Featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski is looking to even the score by fighting lightweight champ Islam Makhachev in UFC 294 on Saturday, and our top Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 predictions are based on the odds from our best sports betting apps. 

In February at UFC 284, when he first challenged Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski experienced a unanimous decision loss despite a late surge. On short notice, he gets another opportunity after Charles Oliveira, Makhachev's original opponent, withdrew due to a nasty cut suffered in sparring. Volkanovski's only defeat in 14 UFC bouts occurred in the unanimous decision loss in February. Since then, he has defended his featherweight crown with a dominant performance against ex-interim champ Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July.

Following his loss to Adriano Martins in 2015, Makhachev started an impressive winning streak, notching twelve consecutive victories. He marked a triumphant comeback to Abu Dhabi by submitting Oliveira to capture the divisional title at UFC 280. The 31-year-old fighter currently holds an almost perfect career record of 24-1, with 15 of his fights ending before going the distance.

Make sure to check out other Top Picks for UFC 294 and here is our best Makhachev vs. Volkanovski prediction for UFC 294 as part of our UFC picks (odds via the best sports betting apps; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 prediction 

Volkanovski by KO/TKO (+550 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Call me a sucker, but I’m leaning toward an emphatic Volkanovski upset in Saturday’s rematch and that's based mainly on intangibles. 

Having rocked Makhachev near the end of their first clash and taken this booking on short notice when his foe was preparing for a far different dance partner, Volkanovski enters the rematch with confidence to burn, sans the pressure of defending a title.

While Makhachev’s wrestling remains a problem for anyone competing even in the vicinity of 155 pounds, the onus is now on him to adjust his gameplan accordingly and more cleverly strike into his takedowns against the shorter Volkanovski, who’s usually adept at getting inside.

The right-handed Volkanovski lands at more than double Makhachev’s rate (6.25 significant strikes per minute to 2.35), and I expect he’ll have an easier time getting past the left-handed Makhachev’s lead hand if he shows him a little less respect this time around. The UFC’s featherweight king also boasts an edge in conditioning, having gone the five-round distance in five of his last seven contests, while Makhachev was visibly the more sluggish fighter by the end of their February meeting.

If the challenger can get past Makhachev’s lead hand, set up his low kicks, and hustle out of reach when Makhachev clinches, Volkanovski should take his man into the later rounds. As Makhachev tires and his shots become sloppy, I see Volkanovski evening the score with a nasty salvo that will dispose of the defending champ inside the distance.

Not intended for use in MA
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 best odds

DraftKings (+225)

FanDuelDraftKingsBetMGMBetRiversbet365
Makhachev-280-278-250-250-250
Volkanovski+210+225+200+200+200

Given Makhachev’s unanimous decision victory in their first meeting and the late-notice booking, the reigning lightweight champ understandably enters the rematch a comfortable favorite. BetMGM, BetRivers, and bet365 offer a second Makhachev win at -250 with a Volkanovski upset at a compelling +200.

If you’re reluctant to settle on a KO/TKO win for the featherweight champ, DraftKings leads our best sports betting sites at a solid +225. While a win for Makhachev won’t net much value, the prop bets on him are more interesting, as those leaning toward another decision win for the lightweight king will find the best available payout at +180 with FanDuel.

Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 fight info

  • Date: Saturday. Oct. 21, 2023 (main card: 2 p.m. ET)
  • TV: PPV
  • Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Makhachev-Volkanovski 2 pick made 19/10/2023 at 12:10 a.m. ET

Kentucky bettors: Sports betting is here!

Kentucky sports betting launched on Sept. 28 - so sign up with the best Kentucky sportsbook promos now! And check out our list of the best Kentucky sports betting apps!

21+ and present in KY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Here are our best sports betting apps:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Related pages

Written By:
Themi Alexis
Themistoklis Alexis is a writer and editor based in Montreal, Quebec. He earned his degree in Journalism from Centennial College in Toronto before working for theScore as an MMA news editor from 2016 to 2018, contributing news stories, fight recaps, and features. His introduction to the sport came in 2007 with Randy Couture's thrashing of Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 74, and he's since spent countless hours watching people in far better shape than him sling zingers in four-ounce gloves. When he isn't getting his regularly scheduled dose of on-screen ultraviolence or losing sleep over his weekly MMA picks, he enjoys reading, watching old films, sketching, and podcasting about filmmakers from bygone eras of cinema.