UFC 294: Volkanovski to face Makhachev in Abu Dhabi after Oliveira withdraws with injury

Alexander Volkanovski has stepped in at 11 days' notice to face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the headline bout at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi after Charles Oliveira suffered an injury in training, UFC president Dana White confirmed on Tuesday night.

Oliveira was defeated by Makhachev in their first title fight, also in Abu Dhabi, at UFC 280 in October last year, and was preparing for the rematch when the Brazilian sustained a serious cut above his eye during sparring.

White revealed during a press conference following the Season 7 finale of The Contender Series that Oliveira has been forced to withdraw, and has been replaced by Australian flyweight champion Volkanovski, who is also aiming for a shot at redemption having lost to Makhachev at lightweight at UFC 284 in Perth in February.

"Yes, it's true. Round five of sparring last night [Monday] before he was supposed to jump on a plane today, he splits his eyebrow wide open and got it stitched up. Obviously, he can't fly out there with that," White said.

"It would be one thing if he had called us. We would have taken him to a plastic surgeon who would have sowed it from the inside out and got it done the right way. These guys never call us when something happens, they call us after they get it stitched up. But on the flip side, too, I can see him not wanting to risk it.

"The Volkankovski crew, these guys are absolute studs, man. He jumps in and accepts the fight."

The first bout between Makhachev and Volkankovski eight months ago was a thriller, with the Dagestan fighter emerging victorious by a unanimous points decision.

Makhachev has not fought since then, while Volkankovski returned to flyweight and defended his title with a third-round TKO win over Yair