UFC 294 will feature Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira 2, and Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa.

Islam Makhachev's championship defence is scheduled.

UFC 294's main event will pit the UFC lightweight title against ex-champ Charles Oliveira.

UFC president Dana White confirmed three fights for UFC 294 on Wednesday night, including two middleweight matches: Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa and Nassourdine Imavov vs. Ikram Aliskerov.

White also stated that Costa and Aliskerov's July 29 UFC 291 bout has been cancelled. UFC 294 takes place at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena.

MMA Fighting's No. 2 male pound-for-pound fighter is Makhachev (24-1). The 31-year-old lightweight champion defeated Oliveira in the second round at UFC 280 to win the title. At UFC 284, Makhachev defeated Alexander Volkanovski to drop the featherweight champion to 145 pounds in his maiden championship defence.

Makhachev has won 12 straight UFC fights.

MMA Fighting's No. 2 lightweight, Oliveira (34-9, 1 NC), defeated Beneil Dariush in the opening round at UFC 289.

The Oct. 21 card has long teased Chimaev (12-0) vs. Costa (14-2). Chimaev is 6-0 in the UFC but hasn't fought since beating Kevin Holland in September 2022. In August 2022, Costa defeated Luke Rockhold in a spectacular brawl to end a two-fight losing streak.

Imavov (12-4, 1 NC) is still looking for his first UFC win of 2023 after losing to Sean Strickland in January and battling to a no-contest with Chris Curtis in June. In his debut UFC fight, Aliskerov (14-1) knocked out Phil Hawes in the first round.