Alexander Volkanovski is gearing up for his light-weight title shot.
Subsequent month, at UFC 284, Volkanovski challenges Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title. It’s a bout between the highest two pound-for-pound fighters within the sport and the primary one among Volkanovski’s UFC profession the place he’s a large underdog, however because the battle approaches, Volkanovski wouldn’t have it some other means.
“I really like that,” Volkanovski stated on Israel Adesanya’s YouTube web page. “Everybody says that, ‘I really like being the underdog,’ however I do. That’s the problem, being the underdog, proving the doubters and the haters, all that sort of stuff — I don’t let it actually get to me, however I let it get to me sufficient the place I’m like, ‘Alright, I’m going to coach a bit of bit more durable, I’m going to close these guys up, and I’m going to go on the market and do it.’ It makes me need these fights. These are fights that I need. I really feel like within the featherweight division I used to be looking for which battle that was going to be after which this light-weight factor got here and that’s what I needed. I’m glad I did it as a result of it’s already made me such a greater fighter.
“The truth that I’m transferring up, doing the bulking, telling myself we have to get stronger, we have to work on that takedown protection, hastily I’m twice as robust as I used to be. My protection is simply on level. I’m like an absolute brick wall when persons are making an attempt to run into me and so they really feel it, they immediately really feel it as quickly as they seize ahold of me or we seize one another. They’ll already considerably see the power, so it simply makes you suppose the place I’m going from right here.”
Volkanovski has been angling for a light-weight title shot for a while now, even serving because the backup fighter for the UFC 280 title battle between Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. After Makhachev received the belt, the brand new champion instantly known as out the featherweight king, establishing this superfight, and Volkanovski believes that was partially as a result of Makhachev views him as a straightforward goal.
“I’m f****** tiny. I’ve all the time been quick,” Volkanovski stated. “That’s simply how it’s. Even the featherweights are taller than me. However you possibly can see in his face like, ‘This man ain’t too huge.’ I’ve seen that on loads of folks’s faces. I’ve seen that on my earlier fights. My final 4, 5 fights, however that face shortly adjustments after I’m within the octagon. Give me 10 seconds with him, that face adjustments actual fast. Impulsively that dimension doesn’t matter, hastily my footwork, ‘The place’s this man at? I’m in a puzzle, he’s already giving drama.’ Then I put my palms on him, there’s one other drawback. Then they attempt to seize ahold of me and I’m a bit of brick f****** wall, there’s one other drawback. That’s while you see them begin to crumble and be like, ‘F***, what have I acquired myself into?’ That’s precisely what’s going to occur with Islam, particularly the way in which he’s wanting. I can inform he actually thinks he’s going to be means too robust.”
Volkanovski has loads of causes to be assured. With an general profession document of 25-1, the UFC featherweight champion has not misplaced a battle in virtually 10 years, and that lone defeat got here at welterweight in his fourth skilled battle. Volkanovski’s lengthy profitable streak is due largely to his adaptability and multifaceted sport, and are available UFC 284, he believes these instruments are going to serve him properly in opposition to the extra single-minded Makhachev.
“There’s so many layers to what number of issues I may give you, and that’s the factor,” Volkanovski stated. “Individuals go, ‘Oh, this, this, and this.’ I’ve acquired one factor to fret about. Individuals are speaking about his power and dimension, however I’m not too fussed about that. It’s grappling. It’s fairly apparent what he needs to do. He’s acquired much more issues to fret about. Look, I’m not saying he can’t strike for s***. He’s calculated, he’s affected person, he does issues properly, it really works very well for his sport, however in the case of issues, he’s acquired much more issues to cope with. I’ve acquired one huge drawback. That grappling, it’s a giant drawback, however preparation is every little thing, and I’m doing the preparation. I’m doing what must be completed.”
UFC 284 takes place Feb. 11 at RAC Area in Perth, Australia.
135. Aljamain Sterling vs. Henry Cejudo focused for bantamweight title battle at UFC 287.
205. Jamahal Hill all-in on potential Jiri Prochazka matchup: ‘There isn’t a battle I need extra.’
TUF. Conor McGregor teases The Final Fighter teaching provide: ‘I prefer it.’
Stoppage. Matt Brown: ‘I’m a savage motherf******’, however ‘I’d have stopped’ Lauren Murphy vs. Jessica Andrade.
Rankings. Jamahal Hill, Jailton Almeida, and Umar Nurmagomedov make huge jumps up within the newest MMA Combating International Rankings.
The MMA Hour.
Aljamain Sterling will get his latest ruby.
Gilbert Burns on his Colby Covington name out.
Free fights.
Rankings Present. Recapping the newest updates to the MMA Combating International Rankings.
Is Tommy Fumbles doing it once more?
Maintain your horses. The person’s having a child.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) January 25, 2023
Response.
Michael Chandler.
Backwards and forwards.
I WILL FIGHT ANYONE!
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) January 25, 2023
Additionally, god love him, however Gilbert goes to must battle Shavkhat subsequent.
Somebody is getting this work quickly!
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) January 26, 2023
Who ought to I battle subsequent? Quem deveria ser minha próxima luta?
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) January 26, 2023
#Wouldwatch.
So exhausting to get a battle nowadays… cowards hiding behind rating
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) January 25, 2023
Johnny Walker.
Kyle Daukaus, who’s not with the UFC after finishing his contract.
“The highway to success is all the time below building, and you will want to drive by way of the cities of failure, adversity, self-doubt and critics to reach at your vacation spot of success.” #GOOD
— Kyle Daukaus (@KyleDaukaus) January 26, 2023
Phil De Fries (22-6, 1 NC) vs. Todd Duffee (9-3, 1 NC); KSW 79, Feb. 25.
Juliana Miller (3-1) vs. Veronica Macedo (6-4-1); UFC 286, March 18.
Khonry Gracie (2-2) vs. David Pacheco (1-1); Bellator 293, March 31.
Aljamain Sterling (22-3) vs. Henry Cejudo (16-2); UFC 287, April 8.
Alexander Volkanovski has been a betting underdog solely thrice in his UFC profession, the latest of which was his first battle with Max Holloway, three years in the past. Additionally, as an underdog these odds had been +100, +110, +145. Only for reference.
Thanks for studying and see y’all tomorrow!
Ballot
Who wins?
60%
(38 votes)
39%
(25 votes)
63 votes whole
Vote Now
In case you discover one thing you’d prefer to see within the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him find out about it. Additionally observe MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Fb.