The UFC returns to Australia for the first time in more than three years Saturday with UFC 284 , which takes place at RAC Arena in Perth with a main card that airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+. Two title fights will headline the card “Down Under.” In the main event, just the seventh champion-vs-champion fight in UFC history will unfold with Islam Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) set to put his lightweight strap on the line against featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC), who moves up in pursuit of a second belt. With Volkanovski doing business at 155 pounds, the promotion implemented an interim title at 145 pounds. The co-headliner of the card will see Yair Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) clash with Josh Emmett (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) to determine who will get the right to face Volkanovski when he returns to the division. For more on the numbers behind the entire card, check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC 284
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Dana White says Makhachev vs. Volkanovski is ‘top 5 biggest fights of all time in UFC history’
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John McCarthy: Michael Chandler’s exciting style ‘dumbest idea ever’ vs. Conor McGregor
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Daniel Cormier: Stipe Miocic, not Fedor Emelianenko, greatest MMA heavyweight of all time
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‘Australia doesn’t have wrestling’: Watch Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski verbally spar before UFC 284
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Jimmy Crute says Alonzo Menifield preparing for wrong person: ‘I’m gonna blow him out the water’ at UFC 284
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UFC veterans in MMA and boxing action Feb. 10-12
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