Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev are saving all of the fireworks for his or her extremely anticipated UFC 284 light-weight title match however the Aussie had some pointed phrases for his rival.
Volkanovski has cleaned out the featherweight division, together with defeating UFC nice Max Holloway thrice.
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However the 34-year-old Aussie has his eyes on UFC historical past — a win on Sunday would make him the fifth champ-champ the game has seen.
A champ-champ is a fighter who has held two belts on the identical time, and he’d be part of Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo and Amanda Nunes, who has carried out it twice.
It could be a historic second for the Aussie if he might get the win however through the press convention, he didn’t rule out going for a triple-champ title sooner or later, assuming he can beat Makhachev.
“I’m not wanting previous him (Makhachev) however I really like difficult myself, I really like placing myself on this place,” Volkanovski stated.
“I feel folks ought to all the time do this in life. You wish to achieve success at something, problem your self, it’s going to make you stronger — belief me. I am twice the person I used to be earlier than I began this camp as a result of I knew the problem forward of me.
“I ain’t fearful of a problem, I do know I can rise to the event. I do know it’s going to make me higher and that’s what folks bear in mind. He’ll sit there and say I’m loopy for stepping up and all that, I feel that’s weak it that approach.
“I feel you need to problem your self. You need to put your self in these positions. Don’t have a look at what may occur in issues go improper. Let’s have a look at what occurs if issues go proper. Sunday’s going to go proper and I’m going to be champ-champ.”
The combat shall be historical past making whatever the consequence as UFC boss Dana White stated it was already a primary for the corporate and doubtlessly a prime 5 UFC card of all time.
“Primary versus quantity two,” White stated on The Jim Rome Present earlier within the week. “Each world champions, clearly Volkanovski transferring as much as attempt to take Islam’s title. It’s by no means occurred earlier than so it’s thrilling.
“That is going to be one of many prime 5 greatest fights of all time in UFC historical past so far as gate, pay-per-view, the checklist goes on and on.”
Whereas he’s the underdog as he steps as much as light-weight, Volkanovski performed as much as the vocal and partisan crowd on the press convention.
However he nonetheless doesn’t assume Makhachev would search for a KO.
When requested about Volkanovski’s feedback that it will be an “pointless danger” for him to go for the KO, the Dagastani stated he needed to take the Aussie’s P4P crown utilizing his personal recreation.
“He’s an excellent striker, I wish to knock him out and take his place, pound for pound king,” Makhachev stated.
As for the vocal crowd in Perth, he added: “When the cage is closed, the individuals are simply going to observe.”
However whereas each males had been assured of taking house the light-weight belt and the highest P4P rating, former UFC fighter turned analyst Michael Chiesa stated a Volkanovski win would make him the GOAT.
“If he goes out and beats Islam Makhachev, there is no such thing as a approach you can’t have him pegged as the perfect man we’ve ever seen combat within the octagon,” he stated by way of Sirius XM’s Combat Nation.
“I often say arguably, however that is an unarguable case if he beats Islam that he’s the perfect fighter we’ve ever seen.”
That title sits nicely with Volkanovski.
“Clearly Alexander the Nice however I wish to be one of many biggest,” he stated.
“However not simply that, I’m pleased with being who I’m via the entire course of. I didn’t need to be somebody I’m not. I could be myself and get the respect off folks as a result of it’s deserved and that is one thing I’m pleased with.
“There are loads of fighters like that and hopefully folks realise you are able to do that and be pound for pound No. 1 and have a crowd like this cheer for you as nicely.”
