“I’m coming off the couch,” Alexander Volkanovski warns Islam Makhachev about immense pressure on him ahead of short-notice UFC 294 fight

Alexander Volkanovski takes a short-notice fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 after Charles Oliveira's eyebrow injury. Despite the lack of a full camp, Volkanovski remains confident.

“I’m coming off the couch,” Alexander Volkanovski warns Islam Makhachev about immense pressure on him ahead of short-notice UFC 294 fight

Alexander Volkanovski Vs. Islam Makhachev (Source: IMAGO)

Alexander Volkanovski is stepping up to the plate on just 12 days’ notice to face Islam MakhacheV at UFC 294. This came into play after Charles Oliveira had to withdraw due to an injury to the eyebrow. Mateusz Gamrot was the backup fighter, but the promotion went to Volkanovski.

Volkanovski, in his YouTube channel, addressed the forthcoming bout. He confidently said of the fight, “Let’s go finish this guy. No pressure on me, baby. No pressure at all. All the pressures on him. I’m coming off the couch. You better do something about it.” His statement makes clear that he’s coming into the fight without a full camp. He further believed the real burden lies with Makhachev as the Dagestani champion had a full training camp to prepare.

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Makhachev is on an impressive winning streak and has solidified his place as the lightweight champion. Volkanovski was his first defense of the title at UFC 284. Makhachev won the title at UFC 280. At the event, Volkanovski weighed in as a backup. The featherweight champion is known for his tenacity and diverse skill set. His last-minute entry into the fight adds a unique layer of intrigue to UFC 294.

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Islam Makhachev would be fighting Volkanovski back to back. However, Volkanovski has fought once since their meeting at UFC 284. “The Great” defended his featherweight title against interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez. Moreover, Volkanovski was rumored to fight Ilia Topuria at UFC 297. It remains to be seen whether the plan to fight at UFC 297 remains intact after UFC 294.

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Javier Mendez Submission Radio interview cut short by Islam Makhachev

Javier Mendez, the head coach at American Kickboxing Academy, is currently in Abu Dhabi preparing his student, Islam Makhachev, for UFC 294. Mendez was recently interviewed by Submission Radio. However, the interview ended very prematurely due to Islam Makhachev starting his training.

Javier Mendez and Islam Makhachev
Javier Mendez and Islam Makhachev (Image via: Middle Easy)

Speaking from his hotel during the fight week, he shared his reactions to the sudden change in opponent from Charles Oliveira to Alexander Volkanovski. Mendez clarified that he first caught wind of Oliveira’s withdrawal via Helen Yee. Interestingly, Mendes revealed that the Makhachev-Volkanovski rematch was something he personally desired. Mendez felt that there was “unfinished business” from their first encounter.

Mendes predicted that Volkanovski would be more aggressive and fearless since he managed to handle Makhachev’s ground game in their first bout. The seasoned coach also showered respect for the featherweight champion for stepping in on such short notice. The discussion concluded hurriedly as Mendez saw that Islam Makhachev had to attend a training session.

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