ABU DHABI – Alexander Volkanovski thinks Islam Makhachev is making excuses by saying he didn’t have enough time to rehydrate for UFC 284.
Makhachev outlasted Volkanovski after five hard rounds February in Perth to retain his lightweight title. Makhachev complained about having less time to rehydrate in Australia, due to the official weigh-ins being later in the afternoon – as opposed to the usual early morning. That prompted Volkanovski’s teammate Dan Hooker to accuse Makhachev of using intravenous (IV) therapy to replenish after weigh-ins, which is an illegal practice.
Now Makhachev will run things back with Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in his adopted home country in Abu Dhabi in Saturday’s UFC 294 headliner at Etihad Arena, and expects all the advantages to be on his side this time around.
“He needs all the advantages he can get,” Volkanovski said during Thursday’s press conference. “That’s all he thinks about. I don’t need none of that. I’ve got these (hands) – that’s all I worry about. I rely on my skills – not crowds, not nothing.”
Makhachev fired back, and isn’t buying Volkanovski’s motive for the rematch.
“Everybody knows what you need: just money,” Makhachev said. “That’s it. … You have to say thanks to me. I can choose any other opponent. We have (Mateusz) Gamrot, we have (Dustin) Poirier, everybody ready for this fight for the belt, but I give you second time chance. Say thank you – that’s it.”
When asked how he’s going to deal with a stronger and better conditioned Makhachev now that he’ll have more time to rehydrate, Volkanovski was left baffled.
“Are you telling me him rehydrating for 30 something hours isn’t enough?” Volkanovski said. “He’s going to be stronger with 40 hours? Is that really what we’re relying on over here? You don’t back your skills? I don’t get it.”
Makhachev smirked, and insisted that time will tell.
“Be patient,” Makhachev said. “I’ll show you my power and everything Saturday night. … You don’t need to recover.”
You can watch their full exchange in the video above.
UFC 294 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view at a special time of 2 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.
