Undisputed UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski believes his stature – particularly his “little legs” will benefit him in a potential, expected fight against newly minted undisputed lightweight titleholder, Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 next February.
Expected to make a lightweight division move next February in a Perth, Australia homecoming, Volkanovski most recently co-headlined UFC 277 back in July during International Fight Week, turning in a third career win against former kingpin, Max Holloway in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Weighing in as a backup to last weekend’s clash between Charles Oliveira, and Makhachev – Volkanovski confronted newly crowned champion, Makhachev in the Octagon post-UFC 280 at the Eithad Arena, with the duo expected to fight in a championship setting at the RAC Arena in February next year at UFC 284.
Alexander Volkanovski touts his takedown defense ahead of a fight with Islam Makhachev
And despite Makhachev’s dominant wrestling and grappling prowess, Volkanovski believes his stature will stand to him in the potential fight – touting his ability to successfully defend takedowns, and even return to his feet in a timely fashion if he’s put on the canvas.
“I’m very, very hard to not only take down, but hold down,” Alexander Volkanovski told MMA Junkie during a recent interview. “… Especially these little short legs, they’re very easy to get back to my feet. That’s going to be one hard thing.”
Volkanovski’s “little short legs” will be a problem for Makhachev
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“Getting me down is going to be a problem,” Alexander Volkanovski continued. “If you do, I’m bouncing right back up and it’s going to be standup most of the way through. That’s how I see it.”
Successfully defending his undisputed featherweight championship on fourth separate occasions, Volkanovski managed to secure victories over the aforenoted, Holloway twice, as well as defeating Brian Ortega in a unanimous decision effort – before finishing the veteran, Chan Sung Jung with strikes back in April atop the UFC 273 card.
As well as the promotion’s interest in booking a lightweight title fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski, the UFC are keen on landing an undisputed bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and former two-weight champion, the returning, Henry Cejudo on the same UFC 284 card.