Plenty of fighters have withered before UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s formidable grappling ability. Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski, who is set to face Makhachev at UFC 284 in February, will not be one of them. In a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Volkanovski detailed the extensive grappling training that he is undertaking in preparation for his upcoming fight against Makhachev.
““A lot of people just prevent getting there [on the ground]. I’m like, if the fight doesn’t go there, that’s a bonus, but I need to be prepared and ready for if it does go there because there’s a good chance. There’s a good chance he might get the takedown, he might get a nice trip, whatever it is. I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t, I’m working everything right now.
Volkanovski Promises “I Will Not Panic” If Makhachev Fight Hits The Ground
But if it does, I guarantee you this; I’m gonna be composed, I’m gonna be calm and I’m gonna be fighting my ass off to get back to my feet and I will not panic. You won’t see me lose composure, nothing like that because the amount of hours I’m doing, that’s why I’m so calm. Preparation is everything, it’s just that a lot of people don’t prepare how they should.
A lot of people are like, ‘Ah, I won’t get there.’ But what if you do? Be ready. Except for me. We know what he wants to do. So, even if he does get me there, I’m gonna be more than prepared, more than ready.”
Volkanovski, in addition to holding the UFC featherweight title, is ranked no.1 in the pound-for-pound rankings. He has long threatened to move up a division in pursuit of the UFC lightweight title, as he competed in that division before his move into the UFC. In a curious twist of fate, Volkanovski’s last fight at lightweight – which he won – took place in 2016 in Australia, where he will face Makhachev. Volkanovski knows that he has a dangerous opponent ahead of him, but he also knows that he thrives on adversity.
“As soon as it was Islam and people telling me that — you know, I love people doubting me — saying, ‘Ah, yeah, he’s gonna be too big, too strong,’ and all this. This challenge, the opponent that I’ve got, that excites me more.
I think going for this champ-champ and taking out someone like Islam is really what people are going to sort of remember. Again, a lot of people think he’s unstoppable right now, but I’m gonna show you that he is stoppable. I can’t wait to go out there and do my thing.”
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