Tag: Islam Makhachev

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).

Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski fight week!!

There first match is a fight of the year candidate!

So pumped to see their rematch this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/cRNOitpkoD

— Bry The MMA Guy (@BryTheMMAguy) October 15, 2023

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.

Alexander Volkanovski says all the pressure is on Islam Makhachev come UFC 294.

In a blockbuster announcement made by UFC CEO Dana White earlier this week, Volkanovski will step into the main event slot on October 21 after Makhachev’s original opponent, Charles Oliveira, was forced to withdraw after sustaining a nasty gash over his right eye during a sparring session.

With 11 days’ notice, ‘The Great’ will look to live up to his moniker as he once again meets the reigning lightweight world champion in a rematch that fans have been clamoring to see ever since their Fight of the Year contender at UFC 284 in February.

“We were told about Charles pulling out and needing a backup,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “They hit me up yesterday, we said, obviously, alright, let’s do it. Obviously, did the negotiations, they did that, I just said, ‘Yeah. Make sure it’s worth it (laughs),’ and let’s do it.

“This is obviously a pretty crazy thing to do. There’s not many fighters out there who probably would do this, especially in my position, but I always say that I will do these things, I am that guy that will do any time, anywhere, any weight, whatever it is. This is just an opportunity to prove that once again” (h/t MMA Fighting)

Alexander Volkanovski is Ready to Shock the World at UFC 294

Volkanovski and Makhachev have remained adamant that their paths would cross again after their incredibly close encounter in The Land Down Under, but nobody expected it to happen so soon.

“I didn’t want to wait and now I don’t have to wait at all,” Volkanovski said. “It’s pretty crazy but I think it’s all meant to be. This just adds to the story. Even that close fight we had, this just adds to the story. Me going over there to Abu Dhabi, him with a full camp, all of this stuff.”

Despite going into a fight without a full camp against the No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Alexander Volkanovski is feeling as confident as ever and believes all the pressure will be on his opponent come fight night.

“I get to shock the world. I can’t wait to go out there and do it,” he added. “That fight made me a better fighter anyway. Honestly, my training after that and my takedown defense, all that, my scrambling ability, the way I understand the ground. I’ve always had that but I learned so much from that fight and I carried that through in obviously my last camp and after.

“Let’s go out and finish this guy,” he concluded. “No pressure on me, baby. No pressure at all. All the pressure’s on him. I’m coming off the couch. You better do something about it.”