“Unrealistic to expect that you can deliver better,” Israel Adesanya’s coach critiques Alexander Volkanovski’s resolve to take on dominant Islam Makhachev on short notice

In recent times UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has had quite the empathetic hype train on him. Despite a KO loss, his willingness to accept a short-notice bout at UFC 294 earned him much praise. Volkanovski now halts his 2-division glory aspirations, to make a title defense at UFC 298. After Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski now faces Ilia Topuria in the UFC 298 headliner on Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Even with Islam Makhachev advising the champ’s corner to sit it out after the KO loss, Volkanovski is ready. Speaking to Michael Bisping in the ‘Michael Bisping Podcast‘, the 145lber had dismissed the notion that UFC 298 is too soon to come back. His disposition is that his head-kick KO was a learning experience and that preparation is key; he nudged as much at the UFC 298 pre-fight press conference in Sydney. Not set on his tactics. here’s what Eugene Bareman weighed in:

I never really looked at that second Islam fight seriously. I was against Volk taking that fight and was very open about it...You trained for 12 weeks for the first fight and, yes, there's an argument that you won. But the result was different, right?... It's unrealistic to expect that you can deliver better results with a week of preparation.

Eugene Bareman via SheLovesTheGloves

Much had come of Volkanovski’s post-fight presser at UFC 294 when he broke down in tears. During an interview with FREESTYLEBENDER, the fighter made a shocking admission on lifestyle before accepting the short-notice bout. Only adding to the cause. The Aussie subsequently had his guard down before the matchup. However, he reeled back, only to lose; this time via knockout this past October in Abu Dhabi.

NZ-born Bareman (Samoan/half Dutch) regulates City Kickboxing Gym, including names like Kai Kara France, Dan Hooker, and Israel Adesanya – a close acquaintance of Volk. With Adesanya confidently backing Volk, Bareman might have just followed suit. However, as he voiced, he does not like his prepping.

Alexander Volkanovski hasn’t abandoned his lightweight hopes yet

Alexander Volkanovski faced lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev for the second time at UFC 294. But he lost out on the last-minute substitution in Abu Dhabi in October in way of a shin kick to the head. Going up against the 25-1, 155lbs king, Makhachev, Volkanovski had an uphill task ahead of him. Despite the rigors and the consecutive losses, the 145lbs titleholder hasn’t lost his spark for 2-division glory.

Volkanovski, 35, defends his title gold against Ilia Topuria in the UFC 298 headliner next. But while he doesn’t expect a prompt title rematch at lightweight, he had nudged he isn’t done yet.

Speaking during the UFC 298 pre-fight press conference in Sydney, here’s what he said on the matter:

Volkanovski has expressed remorse for not living up to the hype limit for his rematch with Makhachev, who beat him in a somewhat controversial fashion at UFC 284. He said he likes ‘having a clear guy, which is Topuria right now‘. So if Volkanovski defeats Topuria at UFC 298, he may consider moving up to lightweight in case there is no clear contender at 145 pounds.

In case you missed it:

• “Maybe the judges were right…” Israel Adesanya and team troll Alexander Volkanovski about Islam Makhachev loss to get him to jump into lake
• “Shaq n Kobe” – Fans in splits as Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya at State Farm Arena wearing Atlanta Hawks jersey

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