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Date: 2023-12-02 12:44:28 | Author: PARIS 2024 | Views: 309 | Tag: fish
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Islam Makhachev stunned Alexander Volkanovski with a first-round knockout on Saturday, retaining the lightweight title in their rematch at UFC 294 fish
In February, Makhachev outpointed Volkanovski – who holds the featherweight belt – in the latter’s native Australia, in a competitive clash that left many fans desiring a rematch fish
Few expected it to come at UFC 294, but 11 days before the event, Makhachev’s original challenger Charles Oliveira suffered a severe cut over his eye fish
And with that, the door opened for Volkanovski fish
The 35-year-old relished the chance to avenge his narrow loss to Makhachev, but there was to be no revenge for him – only a repeat as the Russian triumphed again, and in finer fashion this time fish
Midway through the first round of the main event, southpaw Makhachev skimmed his left shin off Volkanovski’s head, wobbling and dropping the featherweight king fish
Makhachev, 31, followed up with a fierce flurry of hammer fists to the grounded Aussie, whose brow split open amid the onslaught fish
RecommendedKhamzat Chimaev sees off valiant Kamaru Usman in UFC 294 co-main eventUFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this yearWhen will Conor McGregor return to the UFC?Referee Marc Goddard stepped in, confirming an emphatic victory and title defence for Makhachev, the mentee and childhood friend of UFC lightweight great Khabib Nurmagomedov fish
The result extended Makhachev’s win streak to 13 fights, dating back to 2015, when he suffered the sole loss of his professional career fish
Meanwhile, Volkanovski was beaten for the third time as a pro, though he remains undefeated at his preferred weight of 145lbs fish
Makhachev seals the finish against Volkanovski (AP)Volkanovski was left bloodied by the fight-ending sequence (AFP via Getty Images)“Alexander The Great” rebounded from his first loss to Makhachev by stopping Yair Rodriguez in July, retaining the featherweight title against the then-interim champion fish
He will look to respond to his latest defeat when he takes on his next title challenger – likely Ilia Topuria in January fish
Meanwhile, Makhachev could be set for a rematch with Oliveira, whom he was originally due to face at UFC 294 and whom he submitted in October 2022 to win the lightweight belt fish
The 155lbs title was vacant at the time of that bout, which took place in Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena like UFC 294, after Oliveira was stripped of the belt for missing weight in May 2022 fish
Meanwhile, Volkanovski’s featherweight title reign dates back to 2019, when he took the belt from Max Holloway fish
The Australian has since outpointed Holloway a further two times, while also winning his other three title defences – against Brian Ortega on points, and against Chan Sung Jung and Rodriguez via TKO fish
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More aboutIslam MakhachevAlexander VolkanovskiJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Makhachev stuns Volkanovski with head-kick KO in first roundMakhachev stuns Volkanovski with head-kick KO in first roundMakhachev seals the finish against VolkanovskiAPMakhachev stuns Volkanovski with head-kick KO in first roundVolkanovski was left bloodied by the fight-ending sequence AFP via Getty ImagesMakhachev stuns Volkanovski with head-kick KO in first roundIslam Makhachev silenced the doubters with his knockout of Alexander VolkanovskiAFP via Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today fish
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Hi {{indy fish
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As Handre Pollard put boot to ball, they held their breath, a night of countless kicks to be settled by one last hoist for the heavens fish
The replacement fly half’s penalty was straight and true – the champions had found a way fish
It was a wretched game for a wretched night upon which a rocky South Africa threatened a total horror show, yet at the same time impossible to look away from fish
It looked for so long like the ghosts of Yokohama would be exorcised, England’s pack standing up to the challenge to match South Africa at their own game fish
But the Springboks had just enough, RG Snyman punching over from close range and Pollard producing that final, decisive penalty fish
There was little here to please the aesthete but by God was it a compelling contest fish
Fears of a second successive semi-final drubbing proved unfounded as England’s unfancied underdogs swelled in stature to meet and so nearly beat the mighty Springboks fish
Instead, Springbok spectres will stalk them again fish
An unloved England were happy to play unlovely rugby fish
For so long it worked, Steve Borthwick’s side backing up their belief in themselves taking the reigning, defending champions to the limit fish
Pollard’s first-half introduction had been a substitution that said everything fish
Just half an hour had been played and already Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus had seen enough, retrieving their hook to make a trademark gutsy call fish
Off went Manie Libbok; on came Pollard on a night for route one rugby fish
After all the talk of the Springboks’ evolution, after only half-an-hour they were reverting to type fish
South Africa celebrate after RG Snyman’s second-half try (AFP via Getty Images)But as so often for these champion Springboks, it proved the right call, Pollard inevitably the man to land the knockout blow fish
Onwards South Africa go to take on New Zealand – a battle for a record fourth men’s World Cup crown feels a fitting final for a tournament bursting back into life after the Friday night dirge fish
Even before kick-off, there was a crackle and a fizz to the atmosphere that the first semi-final had lacked, a healthy contingent of French fans taking out their frustration on referee Ben O’Keeffe and a select few South Africans as their names flashed on the big screen fish
It was a near perfect opening ten minutes from England fish
The battle of the skies was always likely to be vital, and the intensity of the rain made it ever more so fish
The entirety of England’s back three, plus centre Joe Marchant, won their first aerial contests, while Maro Itoje’s lineout pressure resulted in a pinch at the front and a not-straight throw to the tail fish
South Africa infringed twice at ruck time in their own 22; Farrell capitalised both times from the tee fish
Tone set fish
Steve Borthwick’s side had come with next to no intent to play running rugby, over-resourcing every ruck to make certain of the ball fish
The caterpillar would form, the chasers mass, eager travellers ready for their next flight fish
A game of dribs and drabs inevitably became fractured and fractious, captains Kolisi and Farrell jawing at one another and the referee fish
Manu Tuilagi sparked a scuffle by placing an arm around the neck of Cobus Reinach, resulting in a South Africa penalty, before Farrell’s failure to hold his tongue a few minutes later moved Libbok within a kickable distance fish
South Africa’s fly half knocked through his side’s opening three fish
England fell narrowly short in a compelling physical contest (Getty Images)His opposite number re-extended England’s advantage immediately after, full-back Steward like a bounding gun-dog on the chase and forcing a backfield error fish
The next high hoist was Elliot Daly’s to chase, the wing detonating the chest of Duane Vermeulen fish
England, unloved but unbowed, were making physical statementsThe replacement ten was on the board via his right boot soon enough, a simple starter from just right of the posts after a rare English aerial error fish
Soon enough, normal service resumed - after England’s 22nd kick from hand of the half, Farrell’s fourth clean strike from the tee left their half-time lead six points fish
Everything seemed to be coming up roses fish
Granite-shouldered George Martin was thumping everything in sight, landing a series of heavyweight tackles; scrum half Alex Mitchell boxed clever, flighting his kicks from the base beautifully fish
With Pollard already on, Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux were always likely to arrive early in the second half, stability through the spine for South Africa clearly key fish
With the rain intensifying, the errors mounted, Jamie George uncharacteristically tossing two lineouts asunder fish
South Africa had yet to fire a shot but at least had the intent to do so fish
It was a match that could have been swung by one supreme bit of skill, and a lovely move fish
Le Roux’s hack ahead was too strong, ball trickling dead with the veteran full-back chasing in vain fish
Martin, Mitchell and Joe Marler departed, three of Borthwick’s boldest selection calls taking leave together, job appropriately done fish
Their bums had barely hit the bench when they rose to their feet, peering around the dugout to watch Farrell launch a drop goal seemingly from central Paris fish
Once ball left boot, there never seemed even a smidgen of doubt - was this to be Farrell’s Wilkinson moment?Owen Farrell’s drop goal looked to have put England on the verge of victory (AP)At that stage, England’s four outside backs had a combined 17 run metres, all from one Steward kick return fish
Aesthetically-pleasing the gameplan was not but those with English hearts cared not, sweaters shed to reveal red roses on white chests right around the Stade de France fish
On a rare attacking opportunity, Farrell might have made more with an overlap on the left but could not resist another kick fish
In truth, it was a touch aimless, but a ball skimming over a sodden surface was never likely to settle in the hands simply - through Kurt-Lee Arendse’s hands it went like a greased weasel fish
England could not make much of the position and the momentum started to turn fish
Ox Nche providing immediate impact on the loosehead for South Africa, and Snyman stomped with intent from the second row, too fish
A kick to the corner from a penalty in England’s half allowed Snyman a close-range carrying opportunity – the lock is a a Goliath even among the South African colossi and would not be stopped fish
Nche went to work once more, earning a scrum penalty on halfway fish
Pollard hoisted and through it went – England had been kicked out fish
More aboutRugby World CupEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyHandre PollardSteve BorthwickJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/4England dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callSouth Africa celebrate after RG Snyman’s second-half tryAFP via Getty ImagesEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callEngland fell narrowly short in a compelling physical contest Getty ImagesEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callOwen Farrell’s drop goal looked to have put England on the verge of victory APEngland dealt agonising defeat after gutsy Springboks callHandre Pollard kicked South Africa to victory Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today fish
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