PERTH, Australia – Alexander Volkanovski isn’t buying Islam Makhachev’s game plan for UFC 284.
Featherweight champion Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) challenges lightweight champion Makhachev in Saturday’s headliner at RAC Arena.. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) is confident he can knock Volkanovski out and that’s what he’s seeking to do. But judging by what he’s seen in his past fights, Volkanovski says Makhachev isn’t the risk-taking type.
“He’s a very calculated fighter,” Volkanovski told reporters at media day. “He doesn’t take unnecessary risks. Him coming looking for a knockout, that’s an unnecessary risk. He won’t be doing that.”
Volkanovski was asked if he agrees with Michael Chandler’s breakdown of Makhachev being brilliant at the basics, and while he understands the assessment, he has another way of describing him.
“I don’t know about that, I think he’s more calculated,” Volkanovski said. “Unnecessary risk, that’s probably what he’s better at.”
He continued, “He doesn’t overcommit too much. He does sometimes, but he will fight on the back foot and wait for the right time to shoot and things like that. His distance game isn’t too bad. So little things like that he does well. Like I said, he’s calculated.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
