Israel Adesanya Gives His Predictions for UFC 294 Main and Co-Main Event

Israel Adesanya has some bold picks for UFC 294.

Adesanya’s City Kickboxing teammate, Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski (26-2), will challenge lightweight champ Islam Makhachev (24-1) in the main event on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Volkanovski steps up on 10 days’ notice to attempt to avenge a unanimous decision loss in their first meeting in February. “The Last Stylebender” believes “The Great” will be more confident going into the rematch as he is already acquainted with Makhachev’s skill set, while Volkanovski himself has repeatedly declared that he’ll be seeking a finish. While Adesanya expects Volkanovski to secure a finish by the third round, he is also confident that the featherweight champ’s gas tank will hold up should the contest enter the championship rounds. The former UFC middleweight champ said on his YouTube channel:

“I think he’s [Volkanovski] gonna finish him [Makhachev]… Send him into a different stratosphere… He’s got the fighting spirit man. You’d be surprised at the power of the human spirit when you put your mind to something. If it gets to the fourth round and fifth round, watch Volk not get tired. I’m telling you; you watch Volk not get tired, but I don’t think it’s going to get that long. I honestly think third round, maybe even second round, but I think third round Volk’s going to finish him. Catch him with a shot, drop him and ground-and-pound to a finish.”

The co-headliner features a middleweight title eliminator between former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman (20-3) and undefeated surging contender Khamzat Chimaev (12-0). Usman stepped up on nine days’ notice for his debut at 185 pounds, while “Borz” makes a long-awaited move-up after a severe weight miss at UFC 279 last September, which forced a reshuffling of most of the main card. Usman opened as a +235 underdog in some sports books, his first underdog status since 2019 and the biggest of his entire career. However, Adesanya expects “The Nigerian Nightmare” to defy the odds with a third-round stoppage. While Adesanya acknowledges Chimaev’s durability, he believes Usman will get the nod even if the fight goes the distance. Asked if he expects the fight to go the distance, Adesanya said:

“That was what my gut was telling me, yes. But don’t be surprised if Kamaru takes Khamzat out in the third round. Because Khamzat, I think he’s durable. If he survives, I’m going to give it to Kamaru by unanimous. But don’t be surprised in the third round if Kamaru takes him out... I’m gonna go Kamaru UD or late finish.”

Adesanya also noted that while most of Chimaev’s previous opponents cowered under his initial pressure, Usman has long been accustomed to the championship mindset. According to the Nigerian-born Kiwi, the only condition under which Usman loses is if his gas tank doesn’t hold up with nine days of preparation.