Javier Mendez wants Islam Makhachev to rematch Alexander Volkanovski after UFC 294.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) runs things back with Charles Oliveira in the Oct. 21 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev ran through Oliveira in their first fight, submitting him in Round 2 at UFC 280.
If successful, Mendez would rather Makhachev face Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) again over “BMF” champion Justin Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC), who emerged as a top contender after knocking Dustin Poirier out this past Saturday at UFC 291.
“What I would want? I’d want Alex,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “My personal pick, I’d want Alex. And then after Alex, if we’re successful, I’d want the welterweight title.”
Featherweight champion Volkanovski took Makhachev to the brink in their lightweight title fight at UFC 284 in February – a fight Volkanovski thought he won. Mendez explains that he wants Makhachev to erase any doubt by beating him in more convincing fashion in a rematch.
“Well, because there’s still unfinished business with Alex in my mind,” Mendez said. “There’s still unfinished business. There’s no clarity. And in our eyes, it was clear that there’s just too much uncertainty. And on top of that, I hate to say it, but that fight delivered, that fight delivered.
“It was supposed to be, you know, one of the great fights between two greats, and it turned out to be exactly that. Two champions got in there and it was a championship-quality caliber fight. But there’s still undecidedness on the other side. And I want to prove that we are the better fighters. So, I myself personally would want that fight for that reason. It’s a challenge. Because Alex is a huge challenge. And I like that.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.
