ABU DHABI – Alexander Volkanovski is comfortable with how his style matches up against Islam Makhachev going into their expected champion-vs.-champion fight in February.
After Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) won the vacant lightweight title with a second-round submission of Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 on Saturday, featherweight titleholder Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) entered the octagon for a faceoff to set up a showdown between them, likely at UFC 284 on Feb. 11 in Perth, Australia.
After essentially cleaning out the 145-pound division, Volkanovski put himself in position to challenge for a second belt by offering his services as the backup fighter at UFC 280. He made weight ahead of the event in case his services were needed, and as a result seemingly locked himself into being Makhachev’s first challenger.
