Dana White claims UFC 284 blockbuster between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski will be 'one of the biggest fights ever'... but what are the top five pay-per-views in the history of the promotion?
- Dana White believes that this weekend's card could break PPV records
- Islam Makhachev will fight Alexander Volkanovski in a lightweight bout
- Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov has the most PPV buys in the UFC
UFC president, Dana White, believes that this weekend's main event between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski will 'break' PPV records.
Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title against the current featherweight champion, Volkanovski.
UFC 284 is due to take place at the RAC Arena in Perth, with Makhachev facing the featherweight champion in Volkanovski's own backyard.
With two champions going head-to-head, White believes that the UFC 284 main event is a 'monster fight'.
'Just the gate alone out of there is gonna be an MSG-type gate. The pre-buys for pay-per-view… it's beating all the fights of its type,' White said on the main event.
![Islam Makhachev (left) will fight Alexander Volkanovski (right) at UFC 284 this weekend](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/09/67371457-11730871-image-a-6_1675936673668.jpg)
Islam Makhachev (left) will fight Alexander Volkanovski (right) at UFC 284 this weekend
![The fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) and Conor McGregor (right) did over 2m PPVs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/10/67497503-11730871-The_fight_between_Khabib_Nurmagomedov_left_and_Conor_McGregor_ri-a-9_1675939011983.jpg)
The fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) and Conor McGregor (right) did over 2m PPVs
'It's probably gonna break the record for pay-per-view in Australia and New Zealand. The UFC, our record, which was Conor and somebody. But it's looking like it's gonna break that record. It's a monster fight.'
With the fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski potentially breaking PPV records, Sportsmail breaks down the top five PPV events in the history of the UFC.
5. Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone - 1.35m PPV buys
After the fight with Nurmagomedov in 2018, McGregor would take some time away from the sport.
It was two years before MMA fans would see the Irishman back in the cage.
McGregor's return fight would come against Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone in 2020 at UFC 246.
A natural lightweight, McGregor's return would actually take place at welterweight.
Despite 'Cowboy' coming towards the end of his career, fans were eager to see him and McGregor fight.
![Prior to the fight with 'Cowboy' in 2020, McGregor's last fight in the UFC was in 2018](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67499745-11730871-Prior_to_the_fight_with_Cowboy_in_2020_McGregor_s_last_fight_in_-a-1_1675942220831.jpg)
Prior to the fight with 'Cowboy' in 2020, McGregor's last fight in the UFC was in 2018
![The Irishman made easy work of Cerrone by knocking him out in under a minute](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67499747-11730871-The_Irishman_made_easy_work_of_Cerrone_by_knocking_him_out_in_un-a-2_1675942220859.jpg)
The Irishman made easy work of Cerrone by knocking him out in under a minute
Leading up to the fight, McGregor seemed to be in high spirits as he looked to make a successful return to the cage.
McGregor was looking to produce an eye-catching performance in his comeback fight.
The Irishman did just that, knocking 'Cowboy' out in just under a minute.
The fight between McGregor and Cerrone would go on to do 1.35 million PPV buys.
4. Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 2 - 1.6m PPV buys
After the pair first fought in 2014, both Poirier and McGregor would have to wait seven years before facing each other again.
With McGregor winning the first fight, Poirier was out for revenge.
The rematch would take place in 2021 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Due to Covid restrictions, McGregor was inactive prior to the rematch with Poirier.
![Poirier and McGregor would fight again nearly seven years after their first encounter](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67499709-11730871-Poirier_and_McGregor_would_fight_again_nearly_seven_years_after_-a-3_1675942257551.jpg)
Poirier and McGregor would fight again nearly seven years after their first encounter
![Poirier came away with the knockout win in the rematch which shocked many MMA fans](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67499713-11730871-Poirier_came_away_with_the_knockout_win_in_the_rematch_which_sho-a-4_1675942257602.jpg)
Poirier came away with the knockout win in the rematch which shocked many MMA fans
Then lightweight champion, Nurmagomedov, would retire in October of 2020 which left the 155-pound division up in the air.
White confirmed before the rematch between Poirier and McGregor that the fight would not be for the title, but many were still gripped by the bout.
Poirier would take control in the first round, with McGregor failing to establish any sort of momentum.
The second round saw Poirier come out guns blazing and would go on to knock the Irishman out, much to the surprise of many.
In total, the fight would go on to do 1.6m PPV buys.
3. Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor 2 - 1.65m PPV buys
Another iconic rivalry in the UFC was Nate Diaz's bitter rivalry with McGregor.
Diaz and McGregor would first face-off in March of 2016. The Irishman was full of confidence after winning the featherweight title against Jose Aldo in his last fight.
In Diaz's last outing, the American put in one of his finest performances ever by defeating Michael Johnson.
Diaz would immediately grab the microphone and challenge McGregor to a fight inside the cage.
In the build-up to the fight, the pair clashed several times. On the night of the fight, Diaz shocked the world by submitting McGregor in the second round.
![McGregor's rematch with Diaz would go down as one of the best fights in UFC history](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67499671-11730871-McGregor_s_rematch_with_Diaz_would_go_down_as_one_of_the_best_fi-a-5_1675942285019.jpg)
McGregor's rematch with Diaz would go down as one of the best fights in UFC history
![Despite all the talk leading up to the rematch, the pair were full of respect after the fight](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67499683-11730871-Despite_all_the_talk_leading_up_to_the_rematch_the_pair_were_ful-a-6_1675942285027.jpg)
Despite all the talk leading up to the rematch, the pair were full of respect after the fight
They would then go on to fight for a second time just five months after the first fight.
The second fight would go down as one of the best fights in the UFC, with both men going toe-to-toe for the full five rounds.
McGregor cruised the first round but stumbled at the end of the second and struggled throughout the third.
The Irishman would come back to win the final two rounds to win via a majority decision.
With all the drama heading into the rematch and the fight itself, fans were in awe of the event, with the rematch doing 1.65m PPV buys.
2. Dustin Poirier vs Conor McGregor 3 - 1.8m PPV buys
One of the most iconic rivalries is in the history of sport is Dustin Poirier's rivalry with McGregor.
The pair first went head-to-head in 2014, with McGregor knocking Poirier out in the first round.
Both men were destined to meet inside the cage again in the near future.
They would fight for a second time in January of 2021 in Abu Dhabi, with Poirier winning via TKO in the second round.
With many shocked by the result, the UFC would book the trilogy fight to settle the score.
![Dustin Poirier (left) would win the trilogy fight with McGregor to go 2-1 up in the series](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/11/67497441-11730871-Dustin_Poirier_left_would_win_the_trilogy_fight_with_McGregor_to-a-7_1675942319110.jpg)
Dustin Poirier (left) would win the trilogy fight with McGregor to go 2-1 up in the series
The pair would once again fight for a third time at UFC 264 in July 2021.
There was a lot on the line for both men, with the winner going on to face Charles Oliveria for the lightweight title.
For a chance to fight for the title, the stage was set for both men to put on a show in front of the Las Vegas fans.
The fight would end in dramatic fashion, with McGregor breaking his leg at the end of the first round.
The bout would be declared as an official TKO victory for Poirier. Despite the bizarre ending, the fight would do 1.8m PPV buys.
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor 2.4m PPV buys
In 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov would defend his lightweight title for the first time against 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
The Russian fighter defeated Al Iaquinta just six months prior to win the vacant title.
After defeating Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in 2016, McGregor would become the first simultaneous two-division champion in the history of the sport, winning the lightweight title against Alvarez.
McGregor would then go on to vacate the title to pursue a boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
The Irishman would go on to lose to Mayweather and return to the cage to face Nurmagomedov.
The build-up to the fight was like no other, with the pair involved in several verbal altercations, which would only add to the hype.
With McGregor not fighting for nearly two years in the UFC, many were anticipating his return.
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was packed as fans were desperate to witness history.
![Nurmagomedov (L) and McGregor (R) were involved in several altercations in the build-up](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/10/67497483-11730871-image-a-9_1675936832538.jpg)
Nurmagomedov (L) and McGregor (R) were involved in several altercations in the build-up
![After all the drama, Nurmagomedov would go on to dominate the fight with McGregor](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/10/67497499-11730871-After_all_the_drama_Nurmagomedov_would_go_on_to_dominate_the_fig-a-10_1675939031670.jpg)
After all the drama, Nurmagomedov would go on to dominate the fight with McGregor
On the night, Khabib's dominance paid off. The Russian would go on to dominate every single round before submitting the Irishman in the fourth round.
The fight would go on to do 2.4m PPV buys and still remains the UFC record for most buys.
Will Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski break the PPV record?
Volkanovski is currently the pound-for-pound number one in the UFC and has become a real sensation since winning the title.
In every fight since winning the belt, the Australian has dominated every fight.
As for Makhachev, the Russian put in a sensational performance against Oliveira to win the title.
Many believe that the Russian will dominate the division for years to come.
With that being said, its is highly doubtful that this weekend's PPV will break McGregor records.
![Volkanovski could become only the fifth fighter in the UFC to win two titles simultaneously](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/10/67371435-11730871-image-a-18_1675937306960.jpg)
Volkanovski could become only the fifth fighter in the UFC to win two titles simultaneously
![Dana White believes that this weekend's main event could break McGregor's PPV records](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/09/10/67371441-11730871-image-a-17_1675937302680.jpg)
Dana White believes that this weekend's main event could break McGregor's PPV records
Despite both men being dominant in their division, they aren't household names across the world in terms of a marketing aspect.
Even though the champion vs champion fight will appeal to the hardcore MMA fans, it is fair to say that there could be a lack of wider appeal across the globe and will therefore struggle to break into the top five PPV buys of all time.
Most watched Sport videos
- Emma Raducanu cries in press conference after US Open defeat
- Watch Caitlin Clark's behind-the-back pass, slo-mo edition!
- Ohio State football players lead mass baptism on campus
- Inside Cooper Kupp's $3M Oregon mansion with indoor football field
- San Antonia Spur's Jeremy Sochan crashes porsche in Texas
- NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and brother killed in bicycle accident
- Moment players scream for help after Juan Izquierdo collapses on field
- Harry Maguire shows off quirky dance moves at Haven Holiday Park
- Adam Sandler reveals family's reaction to Taylor and Travis romance
- US Olympian and Rugby star revealed as the next SI swimsuit model
- Olympic athlete Tilly Kearns spots her boyfriend in crowd in Paris
- It's Wayne Crooney! Plymouth head coach sings karaoke at the pub