Alexander Volkanovski, the former AFC featherweight champion, currently competes in the UFC featherweight division and holds the UFC featherweight title.
The Australian fighter last appeared in the Octagon in July 2022 to compete against Max Holloway for the third time. However, the 34-year-old champion had successfully defended his featherweight title but got injured.
In order to return to the Octagon, “The Great” is currently working on his recovery phase. He was the backup fighter for the main event of UFC 280, the Makhachev vs. Oliveira fight. Still, after the fight, he challenged Makhachev to a battle for the UFC pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking at the main event of UFC 284 on February 12, 2023, in Perth, Australia.
Islam Makhachev currently holds the UFC lightweight title. In the main event of UFC 280 last Saturday, the Russian clinched the title for the first time after defeating Charles Oliveira. Islam is currently on an 11-fight winning streak and has won 23 of his last 24 professional MMA matches.
UFC Fight Club members, you're up first! 👊
Get your #UFC284 tickets now!
Not a member? Want first access to UFC 284 tickets? Sign up here: https://t.co/f2GWHbCizR pic.twitter.com/KZWA9MwikF
— UFC (@ufc) November 15, 2022
Arnold Allen, the English MMA artist, recently broke down the upcoming high voltage bout between Volkanovski and Makhachev. Speaking about the Australian, the current 4th rank UFC featherweight fighter revealed speed and punching capability are solid suits for Volkanovski.
“Don’t clinch with Islam – I haven’t seen him in person, but he looks big; he looks strong. Volk [Volkanovski] is strong, he’s short, stocky, he moves very well, he’s very quick, But yeah, I think the key for him is don’t get caught on the fence, don’t get – I think he could get up if he gets taken down.”
As the bout will be a neck-to-neck fighting display, he also explained the process to win the clash; the only way he considered winning was by tiring up the opponent, as both fighters are in tremendous form, and the fighter who tires up first will lose the fight.
“It’s a battle of who gets tired first in the takedowns. If he [Volkanovski] gets taken down, and then gets back up, gets taken down, and gets back up – but is he gonna get tired from getting up, or is Islam gonna get tired from shooting? I think that’s gonna be the battle.”
