Volkanovski targeting revenge over Makhachev at UFC 294
Mixed martial arts
UFC 294 will feature a huge main card with Alexander Volkanovski stepping in at the last minute to take on Islam Makhachev after Charles Oliveira pulled out of the fight with injury.
The pair will do battle in a rematch of their February fight, in which Makhachev claimed a unanimous win. But this Saturday, in Abu Dhabi, Volkanovski is hoping to change that narrative and “finish” his opponent.
The Australian will once again go head-to-head with the UFC lightweight champion after stepping in at short notice for Charles Oliveira, who was forced to pull out of the fight after the Brazilian sustained a cut during a sparring session.
Volkanovski was beaten by Makhachev in their first bout back in February, before the 35-year-old returned to the ring to defend his featherweight belt to Yair Rodriguez in July.
He has not had much time to prepare for this weekend’s fight in Abu Dhabi, and while he admits he’s not in the shape he was back in February, Volkanovski says he is still ready to exact revenge on his opponent.
“There are adjustments that I could have made straight away and a lot of people were like ‘you didn’t have the camp’,” he told TNT Sports.
“But I’m like, I can still roll in and do what I need to do. I didn’t need a camp to know what I needed to do. I knew as soon as I walked into that Octagon what I needed to do.
“Luckily, I train all year round to keep myself in pretty good nick. Am I in as good of nick as I was in February? I’m not going to lie to your face, I’m not going to say that.
“But am I still in good nick? Can I do five rounds? 100%. But am I going to rely on that? No, I can’t afford to.
“I want a better ending to this story. I want to finish him. I really want to go out there and I think that’s my best bet. So let’s go and take it.”
He added: “I could go five rounds. I don’t want to test the cardio. Let’s not test it. Let’s go out there and finish him anyway.”
Volkanovski had initially stepped up a weight class to do battle against Makhachev, with their fight earlier this year taking place in Perth, Australia.
And he made the Russian work for the win in what was an enthralling battle, taking the southpaw the full five rounds before Makhachev was awarded a unanimous victory.
While ‘Alexander The Great’ admitted that he “didn’t expect to be back this early”, he said fans can expect more fireworks when he takes to the Octagon on Saturday night against his old adversary.
Volkanovski will fight on the main card of what is set to be a huge night of action, with Kamaru Usman returning to face off against Khamzat Chimaev following back-to-back defeats against Leon Edwards.
– Eurosport.com
The pair will do battle in a rematch of their February fight, in which Makhachev claimed a unanimous win. But this Saturday, in Abu Dhabi, Volkanovski is hoping to change that narrative and “finish” his opponent.
The Australian will once again go head-to-head with the UFC lightweight champion after stepping in at short notice for Charles Oliveira, who was forced to pull out of the fight after the Brazilian sustained a cut during a sparring session.
Volkanovski was beaten by Makhachev in their first bout back in February, before the 35-year-old returned to the ring to defend his featherweight belt to Yair Rodriguez in July.
He has not had much time to prepare for this weekend’s fight in Abu Dhabi, and while he admits he’s not in the shape he was back in February, Volkanovski says he is still ready to exact revenge on his opponent.
“There are adjustments that I could have made straight away and a lot of people were like ‘you didn’t have the camp’,” he told TNT Sports.
“But I’m like, I can still roll in and do what I need to do. I didn’t need a camp to know what I needed to do. I knew as soon as I walked into that Octagon what I needed to do.
“Luckily, I train all year round to keep myself in pretty good nick. Am I in as good of nick as I was in February? I’m not going to lie to your face, I’m not going to say that.
“But am I still in good nick? Can I do five rounds? 100%. But am I going to rely on that? No, I can’t afford to.
“I want a better ending to this story. I want to finish him. I really want to go out there and I think that’s my best bet. So let’s go and take it.”
He added: “I could go five rounds. I don’t want to test the cardio. Let’s not test it. Let’s go out there and finish him anyway.”
Volkanovski had initially stepped up a weight class to do battle against Makhachev, with their fight earlier this year taking place in Perth, Australia.
And he made the Russian work for the win in what was an enthralling battle, taking the southpaw the full five rounds before Makhachev was awarded a unanimous victory.
While ‘Alexander The Great’ admitted that he “didn’t expect to be back this early”, he said fans can expect more fireworks when he takes to the Octagon on Saturday night against his old adversary.
Volkanovski will fight on the main card of what is set to be a huge night of action, with Kamaru Usman returning to face off against Khamzat Chimaev following back-to-back defeats against Leon Edwards.
– Eurosport.com
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