“These guys are absolute studs,” Dana White hails Alexander Volkanovski’s fearless spirit for accepting ‘most anticipated’ rematch with Islam Makhachev on short notice

UFC CEO Dana White lauds Alexander Volkanovski for accepting a rematch against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 on such short notice.

“These guys are absolute studs,” Dana White hails Alexander Volkanovski’s fearless spirit for accepting ‘most anticipated’ rematch with Islam Makhachev on short notice

Dana White praises Alexander Volkanovski ( Image via Imago )

Dana White has heaped praise on Alexander Volkanovski. The featherweight champion will step in to replace Charles Oliveira in the lightweight title bout against Islam Makhachev at UFC 264.

Dana White candidly revealed the reason behind Oliveira’s departure at a DWCS post-fight press conference. He explained that Charles Oliveira sustained a significant eyebrow injury during a sparring session just the night before he was supposed to board a plane. Oliveira required immediate stitches to address the wound, making it impossible for him to travel and compete.

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Amidst the chaos, Alexander Volkanovski‘s willingness to step up and accept the challenge stood out. Dana White couldn’t help but shower him with accolades, stating, “The Volkanovski crew – I mean, him and Israel [Adesanya] – these guys are just absolute studs, man. He jumps in and he accepts the fight”. Volkanovski will now enter the octagon with only 11 days’ notice to seek redemption for his previous loss to Makhachev.

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White expressed his dismay regarding fighters not informing the UFC promptly when such incidents occur. He noted, “These guys never call us like they should when something happens. They call us after they get it stitched up.” Nevertheless, White also recognized the dilemma that Oliveira faced and the potential risks associated with attempting to fight in that condition.

Related: Dana White reveals S*VAGE reply from Islam Makhachev after proposing 10-day short-notice rematch against Alexander Volkanovski

Javier Mendez predicted Alexander Volkanovski’s strategy for UFC 294

Javier Mendez has offered insights into his expectations for Alexander Volkanovski’s strategy. Speaking with Submission Radio, Mendez foresees a bolder Volkanovski prepared to take more risks in the fight. Mendez suggested that Volkanovski would not be overly cautious this time.

Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski replacing Charles Oliveira for UFC 294 ( Image via Imago )

During their last fight, Volkanovski’s performance boosted his confidence in dealing with Makhachev’s takedowns. Mendez stressed that Volkanovski’s ground game would give him the confidence to engage Makhachev head-on. He envisioned Volkanovski pushing forward aggressively without much restraint.

However, Mendez acknowledged that while he has his predictions, the actual outcome hinges on the fighters themselves. The real test lies in how Volkanovski and Makhachev execute their strategies during the fight. Mendez revealed he was not particularly excited about Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev‘s rematch. He believes that Alexander Volkanovski provides a more competitive matchup. The fight will occur this October at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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