Dwayne Johnson and Islam Makhachev
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Praises Islam Makhachev’s Remarkable Mental Fortitude in Stunning Victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294
In an electrifying performance at UFC 294, Islam Makhachev triumphed over Alexander Volkanovski, leaving the MMA community in awe. However, it was Makhachev’s mental preparation that caught the attention of Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock.” Before the highly anticipated main event, Johnson took to Instagram to applaud the UFC lightweight champion.
Dwayne Johnson, a devoted UFC enthusiast who previously presented the BMF belt to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244, shared his thoughts on Islam Makhachev’s mindset in an Instagram post:
“Great insight into @islam_makhachev’s mindset on fight night. All the hard work to prepare is done, and the moment is here to walk to that cage, move the crowd, and lay it all on the line. Appreciate you, brother @islam_makhachev, for sitting down with our @sevenbucksprod, and good luck tonight in your championship fight. #UFC294 #InAbuDhabi.”
At UFC 294, The Rock’s assessment proved spot on. Makhachev displayed superior strength and aggression compared to their previous encounter at UFC 284. The defending champion executed a series of body and leg kicks before targeting Volkanovski’s head. Despite partial defense, the kick landed on Volkanovski’s temple, causing him to lose his equilibrium and ultimately leading to the finish.
As for Makhachev’s next opponent, he has not specified, but the names of two formidable contenders have emerged: Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje. Makhachev has expressed interest in becoming a double champion, and Colby Covington, who will challenge Leon Edwards for the welterweight title at UFC 296 in December, has also shown interest in a bout with Makhachev.
In a weekend that will be remembered as one of the most impactful in the world of mixed martial arts, UFC 294 delivered an unforgettable moment.
The main event featured reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, who returned to the very same stage where he was crowned in 2022 for the second defense of his title. Challenging Makhachev’s divisional supremacy was none other than Alexander Volkanovski, the featherweight kingpin who stepped up on short notice for a shot at “champ-champ” status after Charles Oliveira’s withdrawal.
Despite his immense confidence in upsetting the odds, “Alexander the Great” faced a more convincing defeat than the one he experienced in Perth eight months prior. In the first round, Makhachev delivered a perfectly executed head kick, flooring Volkanovski, and sealed the victory with a barrage of ground-and-pound.
Naturally, this moment evoked a wide range of reactions throughout the MMA community, including a deeply emotional one from former champion Israel Adesanya, who is closely connected to Volkanovski.
Israel Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion, regularly shares his reactions to the promotion’s events and other significant combat sports contests on his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel. This time, his interest was personal due to his close association with Volkanovski, a fellow Oceanic fighter and teammate. Volkanovski divides his training time between City Kickboxing in New Zealand and Freestyle Fighting Gym in Australia.
The devastating loss of his friend and teammate in the early stages of the UFC 294 main event understandably left Adesanya heartbroken.
With two-division glory at 155 pounds eluding him, Volkanovski is likely to return to the featherweight division, which he has ruled with an iron fist since December 2019. Top contender Ilia Topuria appears to be waiting for a shot at the title.
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