THE unofficial yet much coveted crown of pound-for-pound champion is on the line in Perth, Australia this weekend when the two leading mixed martial artists on the planet throw down to final settle the fan-favourite debate.

Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will make the first defence of his UFC crown against long-standing featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski in one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport.

Dagestani star Makhachev, protégé of former champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, stepped out of the shadow of his former coach and mentor last year when he subbed Brazilian Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi to claim his throne.

Sitting cageside that night was Aussie Volkanovski, who travelled to the UAE to not only weigh-in as back up for the main event but also to claim the next shot and his chance at joining the UFC’s elite two-weight champion club.

Only four athletes have managed to hold two weight division’s belts simultaneously and so, for a man with aspirations of being an All Time Great, attempting to add gold at 155lb to his riches at 145lb was inevitable.

Volkanovski (25-1) had to work hard to become world’s number one mixed martial artist.

Not only is he on a 22-fight win streak, but 34-year-old also defended the featherweight crown four times, including wins over former #1 Jose Aldo and a hat-trick of decisions against once heralded Max Holloway.

Makhachev (23-1) on the other hand has saw his value skyrocket inside just 18 months.

With only one win over a top 10 ranked opponent previously, the 31-year-old jumped at the opportunity to fight for the title in October to utterly dominate Oliveira, who was in the form of his career and heavily touted as world #1.

Beating the Brazilian at his own game – Islam choked out Oliveira, the man with the most submission wins in UFC history ¬– Makhachev proved to the world what he lacked in experience he made up for in talent.

Intriguingly, both champions are far from infallible, too.

Albeit a decade ago and up at welterweight, Volkanovski lost his fourth pro fight. Whilst Makhachev lost in his debut year inside the Octagon. Both via knockout.

Volkanovski likely has the advantage in the stand-up, more due to the pace that he sets and his relentless gas tank. He swarmed on Holloway in their first and third fights especially and likes to mix in low kicks with hanging hooks.

The grappling prowess of the defending champion is trademark Dagestan. He too has great boxing, but it’s in the clinch and specifically on the canvas were Makhachev rules.

A patient yet relentless grappler, it’s no surprise 50% of his wins have come via submission.

I’ve counted Volkanovski out before and it’s never ended well. In fact, I vowed never to do it again. But in a battle between two of the very best practitioners in the world it’s hard not to favour the naturally bigger guy.

I also thought Makhachev would have his hands full against Oliveira last year, and that couldn’t have been any further from the truth.

The deeper this fight goes you would have to favour the more experienced and unabating Aussie. But the notion Makhachev fights to win on the cards is a fallacy.

TIP: Makhachev via Submission