Islam Makhachev is confident in his ability to successfully defend his UFC lightweight title in the upcoming clash with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294, scheduled for this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Volkanovski stepped in as a late replacement for the injured Charles Oliveira, currently holding the featherweight championship. It’s worth noting that Makhachev had already bested the Australian fighter in their previous encounter back in February, held in Perth.
Islam Makhachev has dismissed the possibility of Alexander Volkanovski capturing his lightweight title, with both men set to headline UFC 294.
The Australian fighter is a replacement for Charles Oliveira, who was forced to withdraw from the fight after suffering an eye injury in training.
After defeating Volkanovski in February, the defending champion is confident of beating the 35-year-old again in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
“He’s just come to make money, he’s not brought his belt,” said Makhachev in the pre-fight press conference.
“I have, I’ve put my winning streak and my belt here. Before I came here, he was never going to be the champion in my division.”
Those suggestions were unsurprisingly dismissed by the current featherweight champion, who said that his previous defeat to the Russian was still a huge source of frustration.
“I want to avenge my losses, I didn’t get my hand raised and that hurts me,” Volkanovski said.
“Now I have to do it on 12 days’ notice and I’m okay with that, I accept that and I’m ready to put on a show.”
Volkanovski spoke in more detail about what fans can expect from him on the night, and believes it was fate which brought him into the fight at such late notice.
“There’s going to be fireworks,” he said. “It’s no secret and I’m sure he knows that I’m going to be going in for the kill. They’re going to expect me to be coming in aggressive.
“They’re going to know that I’m not going to show him as much respect. I don’t need to hide the fact that I’m coming for him because I’m going to be in his face.”
When addressing the late notice in more detail, he added: “Like we said when we talk high-risk, high-reward, all these things add to that story.
“Add to that ending to that rivalry and you know what I mean, it was all meant to be.
“The plan was for me to step in on just 12 days’ notice for the rematch against Islam. Defeating him in his home crowd, against all the odds, and we’re determined to achieve it. It’s going to be a legendary story in the making.”
