“I want to go out there and hurt him!” Alexander Volkanovski goes into UFC 294 with violent intentions against Islam Makhachev
Alexander Volkanovski reveals clear-cut brutal plans for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Volk plans to finish Makhachev quickly in the rematch.
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Alexander Volkanovski vs Islam Makhachev (Source: IMAGO)
Alexander Volkanovski goes into UFC 294 with a singular aim. He plans on leaving nothing to chance. After Charles Oliveira was forced out due to a cut while sparring, Volkanovski came in as a replacement. Volk will face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a second attempt at two-division glory.
“It’s going to be an exciting one,” Volkanovski said in an interview with Submission Radio in Australia (h/t MMAFighting). “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. Without a full training camp, Volk plans on taking out Makhachev early, or the Dagestani fighter could take over in the later rounds.
The duo faced each other at UFC 284 in an evenly-matched affair. Makhachev won unanimously, even though most fight fans believed Volkanovski should have received the nod. Joe Rogan and fight fans praised Volkanovski for piling damage onto Makhachev, unlike anyone else. From 2019 to February 2022, no fighter managed to hurt Makhachev like Volk.
Volkanovski also mentioned that he didn’t hesitate to accept the UFC 294 rematch bout on such short notice. CEO Dana White had also praised him for being willing to fight in under two week’s time. Fight fans will tune into UFC 294 to see if Volk can defeat Makhachev despite having the odds against him.
BJJ Star and coach Craig Jones makes a bold prediction of a buggy choke submission
On just eleven days’ notice, Alexander Volkanovski will face Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, following their epic first encounter at UFC 284 earlier this year. Volkanovski is thus moving up the weight for the second time now, aiming at a two-division victory. Amidst the anticipation of the matchup, BJJ legend Craig Jones has predicted that Volkanovski would subdue Mkhachev with a buggy choke.
A buggy choke is a rare form of submission in the grappling department. There have been no recorded buggy chokes in UFC. Although featherweight Sean Woodson almost executed one in UFC 278. Featherweight champion Volkanovski has had three submission wins in his pro-MMA career, but none came in the UFC. Makhachev has never lost by submission. Hence, it remains an interesting proposition to see if Volk could submit Makhachev.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Jones told of Makhachev’s inclination towards a triangle arm choke. Islam Makhachev has a tendency to go for an arm triangle choke. He defeated Charles Oliveira and Drew Dober via an arm triangle choke. Jones warned Makhachev that he would fall in for a buggy choke with such an attempt. Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2 remains the most anticipated rematch of 2023.
In case you missed it:
- “Islam doesn’t know any submissions!” Alexander Volkanovski’s BJJ coach brutally trolls Team Khabib’s ‘Combat Sambo myth’ and mocks Islam Makhachev’s skills on the mat
- “I’m coming off the couch,” Alexander Volkanovski warns Islam Makhachev about immense pressure on him ahead of short-notice UFC 294 fight
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Nidhin Shibu
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