UFC odds: Islam Makhachev opens as big favorite over Alexander Volkanovski for possible fight

Oddsmakers don’t love Alexander Volkanovski’s chances of becoming the UFC’s next simultaneous two-division champion.

Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC), the UFC featherweight champion, is expected to get the first crack at newly minted lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) next year, likely at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia, on Feb. 11.

The matchup will mark just the seventh time in UFC history two current titleholders clash inside the octagon. The results between the higher weight class and lower weight class are even at 3-3.

For this pairing, the opening betting lines have Makhachev as the sizable favorite to fend off Volkanovski.

According to opening odds from DraftKings, Makhachev was a -400 favorite. The comeback on Volkanovski was +300 as the underdog.

In the short time since UFC 280 concluded and Makhachev and Volkanovski faced off inside the octagon, enough money has come in on Volkanovski to drive the odds on Makhachev down. He currently is -305, with Volkanovski at +255.

The matchup between the two champions is not official, but UFC president Dana White said post-fight that all signs point toward making it happen.

It will be a unique contest. Makhachev currently is on an 11-fight winning streak, all in the UFC. Volkanovski is undefeated inside the octagon with 12 consecutive wins. It will be just the second fight in company history in which fighters on double-digit winning streaks meet, joining Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 280.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.