Alexander Volkanovski thinks all the pressure is on Islam Makhachev ahead of their title-fight rematch.
After Charles Oliveira was forced out due to a cut, featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) will step in on less than two weeks’ notice to challenge lightweight champion Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) next Saturday, Oct. 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
Volkanovski is coming off recent hand surgery, but “The Great” relishes the opportunity to step up big.
“This is obviously a pretty crazy thing to do,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “There’s not many fighters out there that probably would do this, especially in my position, but I always say that I will do these things. I am that guy that will do any time, anywhere, any weight, whatever it is. This is an opportunity to prove that once again.”
Volkanovski was able to give Makhachev a stern test in their title fight at UFC 284, but ultimately fell short in a unanimous decision loss. He rebounded with a finish over Yair Rodriguez in July, and was prepping for the possibility of defending his belt vs. Ilia Topuria in January.
But Volkanovski has not been deep in training camp.
“Would I prefer a better camp? Of course. Everyone would,” Volkanovski said. “You know what I’m like with my preparation. I like to make sure. But I’m the man for the job. If anyone can do it, if anyone can do this on 12 days’ notice, off the couch, as they would say, it’s me.
“I get to go and shock the world in 11 days or something like that, so it’s pretty crazy. Luckily, I’m always training. Have I been on holidays? Yeah. Have I had a couple of drinks here and there? Yeah, I have. But I guess that makes me feel a little fresher. That’s why I’m really excited. It’s a bit different. I don’t feel worn out.”
Although the short-notice nature of the fight isn’t ideal, Volkanovski is grateful that he will get his initial wish of an immediate rematch. Just like Makhachev said, Volkanovski feels he doesn’t have too much to lose.
“I didn’t want to wait, and now I don’t have to wait at all,” Volkanovski said. “So, it’s pretty crazy but I think it’s all meant to be. This just adds to the story. Even that close fight we had, this just adds to the story. Me going over there to Abu Dhabi, him with a full camp, all of this stuff. People are going to think I’m crazy for doing this, but I get to shock the world. I can’t wait to go out there and do it. That fight made me a better fighter anyway.
“Honestly, my training after that and my takedown defense, all that, my scrambling ability, the way I understand the ground. I’ve always had that but I learned so much from that fight, and I carried that through in obviously my last camp and I carried that through after. … Let’s go out and finish this guy. No pressure on me, baby. No pressure at all. All the pressure’s on him. I’m coming off the couch. You better do something about it.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.
