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Alexander Volkanovski picks Islam Makhachev to finish Dustin Poirier at UFC 302: ‘It’s gonna be a submission’

Alexander Volkanovski picks Islam Makhachev to submit Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski wouldn’t be surprised if Dustin Poirier caught Islam Makhachev and knocked him out…

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski wouldn’t be surprised if Dustin Poirier caught Islam Makhachev and knocked him out at UFC 302.

Poirier is set to face Makhachev for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 302 in Newark, New Jersey on June 1. Heading into the fight, Poirier is a sizeable underdog, but Volkanovski, who fought Makhachev twice, thinks the champ fights safe, which could allow Poirier the chance to catch the champ.

Dustin Poirier vows to knock out Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 the ref's gonna be pulling me off of him — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“Islam’s gonna be too good,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “I think he’s too safe of a fighter to make mistakes where he’s gonna get caught against someone like Dustin Poirier. Dustin Poirier is a great fighter. I just think it’s a hard fight for anybody and I don’t see anyone beating Islam for a while. Unless they catch him, right?”

Makhachev’s lone career loss is by knockout, while Poirier has won 15 times by knockout, so KO’ing the champ isn’t out of the question.

Alexander Volkanovski explains how Dustin Poirier could catch Islam Makhachev

Although Dustin Poirier is a big underdog heading into UFC 302, Alexander Volkanovski says Islam Makhachev’s style does play into Poirier.

Islam Makhachev backed to retire in two years by Daniel Cormier uFC — Mandatory Credit: Giuseppe Cacace

Volkanovski believes the way Makhachev sets up his takedowns could allow Dustin Poirier to land an uppercut or knee which could hurt the champ.

“He doesn’t like to come in straight when he feels in danger,” Volkanovski said of Makhachev. “He’ll make sure he’s off center. His head is off line and then he gets himself back into a better posture as he’s taking you down. Khabib was like this as well. The posture is not right, but he’s doing this to keep his head off center and not in the firing line, and he still does a great takedown from there.

Alexander Volkanovski calls for UFC 300 title rematch with Islam Makhachev that makes sense

“But now he’s gonna be doing that with a southpaw fighter. So you dip, you’re gonna be a lot more comfortable shooting. So if someone pressures you and gets you off guard, or your instinct reaction is to shoot, most of the time you’re shooting against orthodox fighters, your head’s gonna dip to that side. Now you’re dipping to the power side of Poirier because he’s southpaw. Power side uppercuts, power side kicks, power side knees,” Volkanovski added.

If Poirier does KO Makhachev it would be one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history.

Alexander Volkanovski welcomes fourth fight with Max Holloway: ‘Now that he’s got the BMF belt, we might have to do this’

Despite holding three victories over fellow former featherweight champion, Max Holloway, Australian favorite, Alexander Volkanovski has welcomed the chance…

Despite holding three victories over fellow former featherweight champion, Max Holloway, Australian favorite, Alexander Volkanovski has welcomed the chance to fight the Hawaiian for a fourth time – particularly now the latter holds the symbolic BMF title.

Volkanovski, a former undisputed featherweight champion and a prior pound-for-pound number one under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since he took main event honors at UFC 298 back in February in Anaheim.

And dropping his first loss at 145lbs since his move to the Dana White-led organization, Volkanovski’s impressive title run at featherweight was halted in blistering fashion by the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria – who finished the New South Wales native with a stunning second round KO.

As for Holloway, the former featherweight kingpin most recently featured at UFC 300 last month, scoring a brutal fifth round highlight-reel knockout win over Justin Gaethje to win the previously noted BMF belt.

Alexander Volkanovski welcomes BMF clash with Max Holloway

Weighing up potential title fights against both champions, Islam Makhachev, and Ilia Topuria, respectively – Holloway may have a chance to fight Volkanovski in the future for a fourth time – given his recent BMF title acquisition.

gettyimages 2148564266 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“Would I fight him (Max Holloway) a fourth time? I mean, now that he’s got a BMF [title] we might have to do this, you know what I mean?” Alexander Volkanovski told Australian outlet, Main Event TV on Fox Sports. “I was always thinking, ‘How could you do it [a fourth fight]?’ But maybe there is that something there – I mean, there’s a BMF [title] now.”

“Maybe it’s like, for me – it’s 3-0, how can you get yourself out of bed for that?” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “A BMF [title] is something I haven’t touched before, so you know? Maybe we can do that, you know? So we’ll see what happens.”

Would you like to see Alexander Volkanovski face Max Holloway for a fourth time?

Ilia Topuria denies turning down Alexander Volkanovski rematch fight in Australia: ‘The UFC never offered it’

UFC featherweight Ilia Topuria denies that he had turned down a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski. After his incredible run…

UFC featherweight Ilia Topuria denies that he had turned down a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski.

After his incredible run as featherweight champion, Volkanovski earned the chance at revenge against Ilia Topuria. It was unclear when exactly ‘The Great’ would be fit to return to action after suffering two back-to-back knockout losses.

Ilia Topuria urged to get fighting amid UFC title belt tour it's not coming off great it's just weird — Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

However, in a recent episode of his podcast, Joe Rogan claims that Volkanovski was ready to return in August, but that Topuria had turned down the fight.

“But I guess he feels like he’s the champ,” Rogan said. “He can call the shots. I know that he turned down the Perth one — [UFC] 305, the Volkanovski rematch.”

Topuria quickly shut down the claims from Rogan but made it clear that he would rather face Holloway next.

“I never turned down the rematch with Alex as the UFC has never offered me this fight. As I’ve said many times before, I will be the first to knock out Holloway. Let’s keep this simple: Do you want to fight? If the answer is yes, there’s nothing more to discuss. Bring my belt and your pillow”, Topuria tweeted.

I never turned down the rematch with Alex as the UFC has never offered me this fight. As I’ve said many times before, I will be the first to knockout Holloway. Let’s keep this simple: Do you want to fight? If the answer is yes, there's nothing more to discuss. Bring my belt and…

— Ilia Topuria (@Topuriailia) May 1, 2024

Who’s next for Ilia Topuria?

Since Max Holloway’s sensational knockout over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, the war of words between he and Topuria has ramped up. While the win would come up at lightweight, Holloway has practically jumped the queue at featherweight to challenge Topuria for his title.

‘Blessed’ is one of the hottest names in all of MMA at the moment and a fight against Topuria, who is steadily building his own brand, would be massive. Not rushing back might also do Volkanovski some good considering how heavy the last knockout he suffered was.

Topuria has also recently mentioned No.3 ranked Brian Ortega as a potential opponent after the 33-year-old scored a stoppage victory over Yair Rodriguez.

Who would you like to see Ilia Topuria face next?

Joe Rogan claims Ilia Topuria rejected UFC 305 rematch fight with Alexander Volkanovski: ‘He turned it down’

Linked with a potential immediate title fight rematch with former champion, Alexander Volkanovski off the back of his own…

Linked with a potential immediate title fight rematch with former champion, Alexander Volkanovski off the back of his own coronation earlier this annum, as per color-commentator, Joe Rogan, newly-minted champion, Ilia Topuria turned down the offer to fight the Australia in August at UFC 305 in a rematch.

Topuria, the current undisputed featherweight champion, headlined UFC 298 earlier this year in his first championship clash under the banner of the promotion, turning in a stunning victory to remain unbeaten in his grudge fight with Volkanovski.

gettyimages 2019437050 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Handing the New South Wales native his first divisional defeat in the process, Topuria ended the former pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter’s dominant reign at the featherweight limit, courtesy of a blistering second round KO win at the Octagon fence.

gettyimages 2038623443 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Diego Souto/Getty Images)

And weighing up a host of fights in his next outing at the limit, Topuria has vied for the opportunity to take on his latest challenger in a debut promotion in his residency in Spain.

Joe Rogan claims Ilia Topuria turned down UFC 305 fight with Alex Volkanovski

Linked with a championship defense against multiple-time title chaser, Brian Ortega, Topuria – at least according to veteran UFC caller, Rogan, rejected a proposed rematch with Volkanovski at UFC 305 in August, in a trip ‘Downunder’ to Perth.

gettyimages 2019437606 612x612 1 — Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

“I don’t know who he (Ilia Topuria) wants to fight next,” Joe Rogan said on The Joe Rogan Experience during an interview with former featherweight titleholder, Max Holloway. “But I mean – I guess he feels like he’s the champ and he can call the shots.”

“I know he turned down the Perth one [UFC 305], the 305 – the (Alexander) Volkanovski rematch,” Rogan explained.
Himself staking his claim for a showdown with Topuria, Holloway turned in a spectacular win over former interim lightweight titleholder, Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 earlier this month – landing the symbolic BMF crown with a buzzer-beating fifth round counter hook KO win.

Do you expect Ilia Topuria to rematch Alexander Volkanovski in the future?

Dan Ige volunteers for tune-up fight with Alexander Volkavnoski at UFC 305: ‘Happy to take the challenge’

After coming up short in three of his last four outings, including back-to-back knockout losses, Alexander Volkanovski may be…

After coming up short in three of his last four outings, including back-to-back knockout losses, Alexander Volkanovski may be best served by taking a tune-up fight before attempting to reclaim his featherweight title.

And it just so happens that we have a volunteer.

“Hey @alexvolkanovski if you need a tune-up fight for Perth, I’d be happy to take the challenge,” Dan Ige wrote on X.

Dan Ige volunteers for tune-up fight with Alexander Volkanovski

Since coming up short against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in October and newly crowned featherweight king Ilia Topuria in February, pundits have encouraged Volkanovski to take some time away from the Octagon to get right, both mentally and physically.

Whether or not ‘The Great’ takes the advice remains to be seen, but with the recent announcement that the UFC will be returning to Perth, Australia on August 17, fans are expecting to see Volkanovski back in action before the end of summer.

Will Alexander Volkanovski fight at UFC 305 in Perth?

Dan Ige would deliver a performance against Alexander Volkanovski worthy of his ’50k’ nickname

Dan Ige is currently holding strong as the No. 12 ranked contender in the featherweight division after winning three of his last four, including a highlight-reel-worthy knockout against Andre Fili at UFC Vegas 86 in February.

Typically, ’50k’ would still be a few fights away from an opportunity to share the Octagon with Volkanovski, but given his high-octane style of fighting, which has netted him four $50,000 bonuses, Ige would undoubtedly deliver an action-packed showcase against one of the pound-for-pound greatest of all time.

Islam Makhachev blames Alex Volkanovski’s team for KO loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298: ‘He returned too soon’

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is putting blame on Alexander Volkanovski’s team for the former featherweight champ’s KO loss…

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is putting blame on Alexander Volkanovski’s team for the former featherweight champ’s KO loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298.

Volkanovski looked to defend his title in February after being knocked out by Islam Makhachev in October on short notice for the lightweight title. Many had thought Volkanovski was returning too soon from the loss to Islam Makhachev, which the Dagestani native thinks was the case as he put blame on the Aussie’s team.

UFC Saudi Arabia postponed until June amid links to Islam Makhachev comeback fight — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Islam Makhachev shares thoughts on Ilia Topuria’s win at UFC 298

“Of course (he returned too soon),” Islam Makhachev told MMA Junkie of Volkanovski. “Alex is a good fighter, he is a warrior, everybody knows. He can fight everyday. But I always said that his team is very bad because this mistake is not Alex’s mistake. It’s a mistake the team made because the team has to sit with him and tell him, ‘Hey, it’s too soon.’”

“He had a very bad, tough knockout in his last fight. He has to rest for a minimum of three or four months without training, nothing. You have to do some recovery and just wait. He go to fight again too soon. It was a big mistake. He is a warrior, he can come back, but still, he needs some time. He has to listen to his body and give some time for recovery,” Makhachev added.

Ultimately, Volkanovski did suffer a KO loss to Topuria in the second round to lose his featherweight title.

Ilia Topuria opens as betting favorite to beat Alexander Volkanovski in rematch after UFC 298 — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Following his second straight knockout loss, Alexander Volkanovski has vowed to take time off and let his brain heal.

Volkanovski is adamant he will get an immediate rematch against Topuria, and the Aussie says the plan is to return in late 2024 as he wants to take a couple of months off and make sure he is 100% as he looks to reclaim his featherweight title.

Alexander Volkanovski backed to make UFC return despite KO loss he has no symptoms

Whether or not the time off will make any difference is to be seen, but Volkanovski has confidence he can reclaim his belt.