In almost each interview he is accomplished previous to his first protection of his light-weight title, champion Islam Makhachev has made some point out of featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski’s top, or lack thereof.
Like most of Volkanovski’s opponents, Makhachev is taller. The Russian, who received the belt in October by dominating Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is 5 ft 10 inches, or 4 inches taller than the 5-6 Volkanovski
“There’s breaking information,” Volkanovski stated of Makhachev referencing his top. “I have been brief all my life. I used to be brief once I was in rugby league. I have been brief since I have been combating, and in all of the issues I’ve accomplished (athletically). I’ve managed to take care of it, I assume. I am a brief fellow and I’ve at all times needed to discover methods in and all that stuff, so I’ve constructed a complete fashion round myself and my top.”
certainly. Volkanovski has managed to do pretty properly in MMA regardless of his top. Since his solely profession loss, which got here at welterweight in his fourth professional bout to Corey Nelson, Volkanovski has accomplished nothing however win. He is reeled off 22 consecutive victories, together with 12 in a row within the UFC.
It needs to be famous that whereas Volkanovski is 4 inches shorter, he is acquired a slight attain benefit. He has a attain of 71 inches in comparison with Makhachev’s 70. It is most likely smart to comprehend he is brief, not small.
He described himself to Yahoo Sports activities “as a brick wall,” as he is moved again as much as light-weight.
Volkanovski’s first 5 fights had been at welterweight. Saturday’s bout would be the sixth light-weight bout of his profession and his second within the UFC. When he made his UFC debut in Melbourne, Australia, in 2016 towards Yusuke Kusuya, he was at light-weight.
Volkanovski, who’s No. 1 within the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, a spot above Makhachev, is not too delay by his opponent’s verbal taunts. And he thinks there are benefits there for him.
“It is a indisputable fact that taking somebody brief down is so much tougher,” Volkanovski instructed Yahoo Sports activities. “Scrambling is so much tougher. Controlling that decrease heart of gravity goes to be so much tougher. I do not assume there is a strategic motive for him to be speaking like this aside from possibly he thinks it is moving into my head. Possibly he thinks I believe I am tall and he is making an attempt to make me understand I am brief. Possibly it is one thing like that.”
The statistics present that Makhachev has determined his edge in wrestling. He connects on 65 % of his takedown makes an attempt and stuffs 88 % of the makes an attempt towards him. Volkanovski’s figures are 36 % on takedowns and 73 % on takedown protection.
Makhachev is from Dagestan, the place wrestling is greater than a sport. It is a lifestyle. There have been 17 Olympic wrestling gold medalists from Dagestan and scores of beginner world champions.
For some motive, although, Makhachev has been speaking about hanging with Volkanovski.
“Truthfully, I need to knock him out, as a result of everyone says (that) Islam is a grappler or wrestler, however I need to present individuals my hanging,” Makhachev stated in an interview with Carlos Contreras of ESPN Deportes. “He’s a brief man , and I actually imagine I can knock him out.”
Volkanovski chuckled on the notion that Makhachev, a extremely pedigreed wrestler, would choose to remain within the pocket and slug with him.
“He is been speaking, I assume, making an attempt to hype up the battle, however everyone knows he needs to shoot and attempt to dangle onto me,” Volkanovski stated. “He does not need to attempt to strike with me and he’ll discover that out fairly rapidly.”
Volkanovski nonetheless hasn’t determined how a lot weight he needs to place again on after the weigh-in, when he’ll should hit the championship degree of 155 kilos. He stated he might stroll to the cage weighing the identical as Makhachev, however stated he’ll attempt to not be any greater than 170 kilos.
He’ll want some bulk to defend towards Makhachev’s takedowns and grappling, however finally it is a case of diminishing returns the extra weight he provides.
“Me placing on further weight only for the sake of it, I do not assume that is going to make me stronger,” Volkanovski stated. “It would make me somewhat extra top-heavy if I am on prime and all that kind of stuff, however I must hold him puzzled on the ft, hold him uncomfortable on the ft as a result of keep in mind: We begin on the ft. It is necessary to do not forget that. We begin on the ft and I need to hold it there. I’ll be sharp, maintaining him busy, out and in, puzzling that mind of his and make him get determined and attempt to seize a maintain of me and actually attempt to get me down.He’ll be uncomfortable on his ft and I am going to want the [quickness] for motion and issues like that.”
Volkanovski stated he thinks he’ll have a bonus due to his battle IQ. He did not begin to battle MMA till he was 22 and has change into one of many sharpest fighters within the sport within the ensuing 12 years.
He is a big underdog regardless of being the pound-for-pound greatest on this planet. At BetMGM, Makhachev is -375 whereas Volkanovski is +290.
Volkanovski stated it is as a result of individuals overlook how properly he thinks the sport.
“I am a really, very fast learner and I adapt very properly,” he stated. “Clearly, I’ve acquired that never-give-up perspective, the mindset to by no means die, simply hold going, all that kind of stuff. That is simply who I’m.
“I am an issue solver and I’ve the battle IQ, all that stuff that basically I imagine separates me from my previous opponents. That is what individuals are forgetting. They see these issues Islam presents to me, however they overlook I am an issue solver. I determine this stuff out and it is what has made me who I’m.”