“If roles were reversed…fight is not happening!” Alexander Volkanovski boldly claims Islam Makhachev would never accept 12-day notice fight
Alex Volkanovski doesn't think Islam Makhachev would have taken the fight if he was given this opportunity on short notice.
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Islam Makhachev and Alexander volkanovski (Image via IMAGO)
Alexander Volkanovski finds himself in an unexpected showdown for the lightweight championship against Islam Makhachev with just 12 days to spare. The sudden turn of events occurred when Charles Oliveira had to withdraw from UFC 294 due to an injury, leaving a vacant spot at the top of the division. This matchup between Volkanovski and Makhachev has sent shockwaves throughout the mixed martial arts world, creating a buzz of anticipation and excitement among fans and analysts alike.
Ever since their intense encounter at UFC 284 in February, Volkanovski has been looking forward to the opportunity for a rematch against Makhachev. Despite Makhachev being granted a unanimous decision win in that bout, it’s worth noting that the fight was extremely competitive, and a significant portion of the audience believed that Volkanovski was robbed in the fight.
Ahead of the fight, Makhachev asked Volkanovski to give no excuses after he deliberately chose to fight on short notice. However, the ‘Great’ has claimed that the Dagestani would have never taken this fight if the roles had reversed.
He said, “I guarantee you that there is not many fighters that would do this. You heard Islam say, ‘No excuses,’ and things like this. One thing I want to say is, put it this way, if the roles were reversed, this fight is not happening. I don’t care what anyone says, [Islam] is not fighting on 12 days’ notice. So he needs to remember that.”
Volkanovski has received a ton of appreciation for taking the fight against Makhachev, who gave him such a competition last time. Nevertheless, this time the fight is taking place in Abu Dhabi and it is surely going to be an interesting fight.
Alexander Volkanovski talks about losing the opposite to fight for the lightweight title if he fails to beat Islam Makhachev
Alexander Volkanovski is looking confident ahead of Islam Makhachev‘s fight, despite taking the fight on short notice. The Aussie isn’t scared of Makhachev, especially after how close the last fight between both fighters went. Ahead of the fight, many fans have claimed that Volkanovski has nothing to lose and that it’s easier for him to come up with an excuse if he loses to Makhachev at UFC 294.
However, the ‘Great’ thinks otherwise, as he stated that there is no pressure on him and he’s not feeling any pressure. But there is still a lot on the line. According to him, this is his rematch for one of the biggest fights and one with a rivalry. So if he goes out there and loses, he might never get that title shot again.
Volk claimed that if he loses this time, he’s not going to get a rematch, he’s not going to get a third fight, and he’s not going to be able to fight for that lightweight title. His legacy takes a big hit. So there is plenty to lose for him.
In case you missed it!
- “He would easily do it” – Islam Makhachev confidently claims retired Khabib Nurmagomedov could beat Sean Strickland for middleweight belt
- “Is he fuc**ng mad,” Alexander Volkanovski reveals magical quest for fairytale ending against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294
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Soumya Ranjan
(2167 Articles Published)