Tag: alexander volkanovski

Charles Oliveira defends decision to exit UFC 294: ‘It’s not about money, It’s about legacy

charles OliveiraCharles Oliveira details the decision to withdraw from his fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 this weekend. With…

charles Oliveira

Charles Oliveira details the decision to withdraw from his fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 this weekend.

With just 10 days to go, Oliveira was forced out of his rematch with Oliveira after suffering a horrendous cut above his eye in his last sparring session of camp. The Brazilian has since be replaced by Alexander Volkanovski in what is another rematch. 

The Brazilian has become a fan favourite since his legendary title run and time as champion, many were disappointed with the news and it is unclear if Oliveira will get another shot on his return. 

Charles Oliveira talks Pull-out 

Talking with Ag Fight, Oliveira discussed his withdrawal and while it was disappointing to have to do so ultimately he and his team felt it was the right decision. ‘Do Bronx’ says that it is not about money, rather legacy.

“We made this decision together,” Oliveira began. “We all sat down and thought about what would be best for us. We’re in a moment in our lives where we don’t have to fight just for the sake of fighting. If this was about money, I’d be in Abu Dhabi right now, for sure, waiting for my moment to fight, because we are talking about a lot of money.” (H/T Bloody Elbow)

“It’s not about money. It’s about legacy.” Oliveira continued. “It’s about what we want to show in the middle of the fight. There would be no point in going out there just for the first grazing punch that touched me to open up the cut and make the fight bet stopped and give him another win. We thought this through, we analysed it thoroughly and we made this decision together.”

Charles Oliveira talks with Ag Fight

Do you want to see Charles Oliveira fight for a title on his return? 

Alexander Volkanovski makes weight for UFC 294 title fight, drops over 26lbs on just 11 days’ notice

Alexander Volkanovski makes weight for UFC 294 loses 26lbs on just 11 days' noticeOfficially slated to fight for undisputed lightweight gold this weekend at UFC 294, incumbent featherweight champion and pound-for-pound kingpin,…

Alexander Volkanovski makes weight for UFC 294 loses 26lbs on just 11 days' notice

Officially slated to fight for undisputed lightweight gold this weekend at UFC 294, incumbent featherweight champion and pound-for-pound kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski has made weight for his rematch with rival, Islam Makhachev – shifting over 26 pounds to reach championship weight for the clash.

Volkanovski, the current undisputed featherweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, will headline UFC 294 this weekend in Abu Dhabi, UAE – on just 11 days’ notice, rematching Makhachev after the duo shared the Octagon back in February, dropping a unanimous decision loss to the Russian.

Attempting to avenge his sole promotional loss in his rematch with Makhachev, Volkanovski replaces former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, after the Brazilian was forced from the bout due to a nasty laceration on his right eyebrow suffered in the last round of sparring ahead of UFC 294. 

In the time since his February lightweight title siege loss to Makhachev, New South Wales native, Alexander Volkanovski successfully unified the featherweight championships with a TKO win over former interim champion, Yair Rodríguez at UFC 290 back in July. 

Alexander Volkanovski makes weight for UFC 294 title rematch

And landing on the scales this morning in the Middle East, Joe Lopez-trainee, Volkanovski successfully weighed in at 154.5lbs for the lightweight title fight against Makhachev – shifting an apparent 26.5lbs for his title rematch. For the incumbent gold holder, Makhachev, the defending champion also hit championship weight successfully, coming in at 155lbs. 

In the event’s co-headliner, former undisputed welterweight champion and prior pound-for-pound chart topper, Kamaru Usman also successfully made weight for his middleweight divisional bow – landing at 184.5lbs for his first Octagon walk since March of this year.

As for his opponent, Usman takes on undefeated finisher, Khamzat Chimaev – who put prior seven and a half pound weight miss blues behind him ahead of UFC 294 – coming in at 185.5lbs for his middleweight division return in the Middle East this weekend. 

Can Alexander Volkanovski avenge his title loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 294?

Israel Adesanya picks Alexander Volkanovski to KO Islam Makhachev at UFC 294: ‘He’s gonna catch him’

Israel Adesanya picks Alexander Volkanovski to KO Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 he's gonna catch himFormer two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has predicted a third round knockout win for his close friend and…

Israel Adesanya picks Alexander Volkanovski to KO Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 he's gonna catch him

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has predicted a third round knockout win for his close friend and training partner, Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 this weekend, winning the lightweight title in his rematch with champion, Islam Makhachev.

Set to share the Octagon with Makhachev for the second time this year this weekend in Abu Dhabi, undisputed featherweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Volkanovski replaces former lightweight titleholder, Charles Oliveira on just 10 days’ notice, attempting to avenge a prior loss to the former.

Headlining UFC 284 back in February in enemy territory in Perth, Australia – American Kickboxing Academy staple, Makhachev landed a close decision win over Volkanovski, handing the New South Wales native his first promotional loss.

Alexander Volkanovski backed to KO Islam Makhachev in UFC 294 rematch

Sharing the Octagon again this weekend in the Middle East – despite the fact Volkanovski is taking the bout on such short-notice against Makhachev, Adesanya believes his training partner can avenge a February loss, and even stop the Russian with strikes.

“Now he (Alexander Volkanovski) knows what he (Islam Makhachev) brings,” Israel Adesanya siad of the UFC 294 headliner on his official YouTube channel. “This guy can take me down? He can’t keep me down. I can get back up and f*ck him up. So, now he knows what to do and he doesn’t have to worry about, ‘I need to last with this guy. Only 11 days, cool. I been on the couch, cool.’”

“When it gets to the fourth and fifth round, watch ‘Volk’ not get tired,” Israel Adesanya explained. “I don’t think it’s gonna get that long. I honestly think third round, maybe even second round, but I think third round. ‘Volk’s’ gonna finish him. Catch him with a shot, drop him, and ground and pound him to a finish. If he submits him, that would be f*cking insane but I think ‘Volk’s’ gonna catch him and drop him and finish him.”

Who wins at UFC 294: Islam Makhachev or Alexander Volkanovski?

UFC 294 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks

UFC 294 goes down this Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and there are a lot of reasons to be excited for it. The card was stacked from the outset, but in the last two…

UFC 294 goes down this Saturday in Abu Dhabi, and there are a lot of reasons to be excited for it. The card was stacked from the outset, but in the last two…

Alexander Volkanovski won’t let judges get involved in Makhachev rematch: ‘I plan on knocking him out’

Alexander VolkanovskiFeatherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski is ready to make the most of his short-notice opportunity at UFC 294. In February, Volkanvovski first met reigning lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, taking the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ to the limit and, in the eyes of many, doing more than enough to become a two-division champ. However, the […]

Alexander Volkanovski

Featherweight world champion Alexander Volkanovski is ready to make the most of his short-notice opportunity at UFC 294.

In February, Volkanvovski first met reigning lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, taking the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ to the limit and, in the eyes of many, doing more than enough to become a two-division champ. However, the judges didn’t see it that way, awarding Makhachev the win via a questionable unanimous decision.

Eight months later, they will run back their Fight of the Year contender on October 21 as the UFC heads to Abu Dhabi. And this time, Volknanovski has no intention of letting the judges get involved.

“It’s going to be an exciting one,” Volkanovski said during a media scrum in Australia. “Obviously, I want to go out there and hurt him. We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go five rounds. I want to finish it early. I don’t want to test his gas tank. Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try and test it. Let’s just finish it nice and early.

“With how excited I am, how refreshed I am — both mentally and physically — I’m going to be a dangerous man in there. I plan on knocking him out” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Alexander Volkanovski Had No Hesitations About Taking Late-Notice Rematch

Originally, Makhachev was slated to face Charles Oliveira in another highly anticipated rematch, but after sustaining an injury while sparring, ‘Do Bronx’ was forced to withdraw, paving the way for Volkanovski to step in on 11 days’ notice. Asked if there was any hesitation on taking such a high-profile fight on less than two weeks’ notice, ‘The Great’ revealed that he never once wavered in his decision-making.

“I didn’t hesitate at all,” Volkanovski explained. “There was probably a smile on my face straight away and it was, ‘Oh, we’re going to do it,’ let the manager do his part with negotiations. He’s asking about the weight, ‘We’ll get it done, don’t worry about that.’ But I had a smile on my face.

“The next day, or couple of days, I literally just was laughing thinking how crazy this is, but happy at the same time. I think I needed this, to be honest.”

Since coming up short in their first meeting, Alexander Volkanovski has added another win to his resume, besting former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in a title unification clash at UFC 290. For Makhachev, it will be his first fight since facing Volkanovski earlier this year.