Islam Makhachev was once told he would never fight again following by UFC president Dana White.

Now, the undisputed lightweight champion is about to defend his title for the second time against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294.

The Australian will be stepping up to face Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira was forced out due to a brutal cut above the eye.

The pair went face-to-face at UFC 284 earlier this year in what was a close contest. Makhachev triumphed on the scorecards, with his challenger desperate for another shot.

However, it could have been different for the Russian. Five years ago, at UFC 229, the current lightweight champion jumped into the octagon following Khabib Nurmagomedov's fourth-round victory over Conor McGregor.

Makhachev and team-mate Zubaira Tukhugov landed blows on the Irishman, which then sparked a major post-fight brawl between 'Team McGregor' and 'Team Nurmagomedov.' 

That was after Khabib had attacked McGregor's team-mate Dillon Danis, who was accused of verbally abusing the Russian. 

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, White said that Makhachev and Tukhugov would never fight again.

'The guys who jumped in will never fight here again,' said White.

'I've been working hard to promote this sport, this is not what a mixed martial arts event is normally like.'

Just days after UFC 229, Nurmagomedov threatened to leave the UFC if the promotion cut ties with the pair.

The former lightweight champion took to social media to express his anger over the potential decision. 

'I would like to address UFC. Why didn't you fire anyone when their team attacked the bus and injured a couple of people? They could have killed someone there, why no one says anything about insulting my homeland, religion, nation, family?

'Why do you have to punish my team, when both teams fought. If you say that I started it, then I do not agree, I finished what he had started.'

Nurmagomedov's frustration caused the promotion to reverse their decision. Makhachev's next fight after the UFC 229 brawl came against Arman Tsarukyan - nearly a year after the historic event. 

The Dagestani would go on to secure a dominant decision victory against the current No 8 lightweight contender.

From then on in, he has dominated every fight he has been involved in, defeating the likes of Drew Dober, Dan Hooker, Thiago Moises and Bobby Green.

He captured the lightweight gold last year after submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.