Alexander Volkanovski says he’s in a “no pressure headspace” forward of his hastily early re-match towards light-weight champion Islam Makhachev.
The Australian was once vaulted into the primary match at UFC 294 next Charles Oliveira‘s resolution to withdraw from his fight against Makhachev (24-1), next struggling lacerations above his proper optic within the ultimate phases of coaching camp.
Volkanovski (26-2) wasted deny occasion in accepting the problem, although it approach simply 11 days to arrange for what’s shaping as the largest struggle of his occupation. However date many are specializing in the negatives of this sort of snip coaching camp, the 35-year-old featherweight champion believes there are plethora of benefits to his eleventh-hour name up.
“Everyone points out all the cons, and there’s a lot of them, but there’s definitely pros at the fact it’s such short notice,” Volkanovski instructed ESPN. “The fact that I’m fresh, mentally and physically, is going to be unreal. I haven’t had the pressure all camp. I haven’t had the pressure of going through all these gameplans. Fighting is the easy part [and] I get to go out there and literally do this easy, fun part.
“Preparation, it ain’t a laugh. Don’t get me mistaken, I’m disciplined, I’m getting to do it. When you see me educate right through camp, that’s dried paintings. However I didn’t have to empty myself with all of those accidents. I am getting to walk in the market with now not a mark on me, untouched as a daisy.
“I’ve never had such a clear vision to what I’m going to do in there, which seems weird because I’ve had such a short amount of time. [In other fights] I’m preparing for the worst. I don’t have time to prepare for the worst and I’m nailing in on what I need to do. If there’s anyone that can take this fight on such short notice, it’s me, and when I go and get my hand raised, everyone is going to be looking at this as a blessing. ‘Eleven day-notice Volk’ is a dangerous man.”
Makhachev and Volkanovski produced probably the most fights of the 12 months once they stepped into the Octagon at UFC 284 in February. Next 5 extremely witty and bruising rounds it was once Makhachev who won the judges’ nod, albeit in a near unanimous resolution. The loss was once Volkanovski’s first in a decade.
Volkanovski has since returned to profitable techniques with a third-round TKO of Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July. It was once the Australian’s 5th a hit featherweight name protection; the second one maximum in category historical past. In the meantime, Makhachev has been idle, and upcoming weekend’s struggle in Abu Dhabi towards Volkanovski shall be his first since getting the simpler of the Australian in Perth.
“I’ve had him on my mind a fair bit,” Volkanovski stated of Makhachev. “There’s definitely plenty of things I take away from [the first fight]. There was a lot I can do differently, and I knew that even while I was in the Octagon. I know what I need to do. Islam, I’m coming off the couch, you better do something about it because it’s going to be an absolute nightmare for you.”
In spite of the end result once they endmost met, ESPN has Volkanovski ranked because the Deny. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on this planet, with Makhachev at Deny. 2. However running towards Volkanovski is the truth that deny fighter in UFC historical past has gained a category name next being a alternative on such snip realize.
“That’s just another thing I can say I’ve done and nobody else has; that excites me even more,” Volhanovski instructed ESPN. “I’ve proven time and time again that I ain’t just your average fighter. I’ve got that belief in me. The bigger the challenge the more it gets me fired up. I don’t know if it’s an ego thing, but I know I’m the right man for this job.
“If I walk in the market, rush this possibility and issues don’t walk to devise, me getting that shot once more is long past. There’s a quantity at the form for me, but when I walk in the market and do what I plan on doing, we’re speaking the legacy taking a large get up. You’re in reality isolating your self from the left-overs. You’re in reality doing issues that no person would do. I’m ready the place I am getting to turn out I’m that man. I promise I am getting to injury the arena upcoming hour.”
