Alexander Volkanovski is ready to go earn a Conor McGregor superfight by knocking Islam Makhachev cold this Sunday, saying of the feared Dagestani wrestler: “Who gives a f… what he’s done?”
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia on the eve of his hyped UFC 284 showdown in Perth, Australia’s No.1 fighter has declared fans would be “mad” not to see the path to McGregor becoming his first defense of the UFC lightweight title.
Already the reigning UFC featherweight king, Volkanovski said he not only plans to become just the fifth fighter to earn ‘champ champ’ status when he moves up to challenge for Makhachev’s belt, but create history by defending both straps simultaneously.
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Volk ‘guarantees’ to overcome Makhachev | 04:57
And with the UFC having recently announced McGregor’s hyped Octagon return later this year against American Michael Chandler, Volkanosvki said a win for both him and the Irish megastar would result in them squaring off for his first lightweight title defence.
‘The Great’ also doubled down by predicting he will KO Makhachev in Sunday’s headliner, which UFC officials are convinced will break all sorts of Pay Per View records Down Under.
“Because lightweight Volk,” the champ grinned, “is going to be packing a punch.
“So I will be looking for it (the knockout).”
Which then catapults him straight into a McGregor title fight if the Irishman also wins himself, right?
“Oh, one hundred per cent,” the champ said.
“If McGregor beats Chandler and you’re surprised he gets a world title shot straight after that, you’re mad.
“You’re absolutely mad.
“If he beats Chandler, how is he not getting a title fight?
“And of course I have a huge fight ahead of me right now. Which is what I’m preparing for.
“But it’s also OK to look ahead.
“And while I’m never looking ahead without being focused on what’s in front of me — I couldn’t be where I am right now if that were the case – it’s also important to see what you’re fighting for.
“And all the opportunities that come my way after this big win, it will be massive.
“Massive for me, for my family, I’ll be up there with conversations about the greatest (ever).
“All the conversations from there are endless.”
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Despite being undefeated in the UFC, Volkanosvki is still a $3.75 TAB outsider, while Makhachev is $1.27.
“And I hear people keep saying ‘oh look what Islam has done to all these other guys’,” Volkanovski shrugged. “But who gives a f… what he’s done?
“I’m a whole different breed to those guys.
“And I’m about to prove that.
“That’s why I don’t give a f… when people say ‘oh, look what Islam did to this or that guy’.
“Max Holloway had done a lot of s… to guys too. And look what I then did to Max (beating him in all three fights of their hyped UFC title trilogy).
“So don’t tell me what the other guy has done.
“I’m going to figure him out. I’ve got that fight IQ.
“I’ve got everything required for this cool underdog story.”
While Volkanovski has fought to decision wins in five of his past six Octagon appearances, the Wollongong native is predicting things will be different against famed wrestler Makhachev.
“Fighting at featherweight, I’ve always felt that with a lot of my opponents, their only chance was that puncher’s chance,” the champ explained.
“So because of that, I’ve had to be calculated. Make sure they didn’t get that one punch.
“I’ve had to take (that chance) away, be a bit safer on the feet.
“And I know it mightn’t have always seemed that way when you look at my volume.
“But for this one, I need to capitalise on the feet.
“We know what Islam wants to do.
“So I can’t sit there and cruise on the feet. It has to be damage, damage, damage.
“That’s what I’m going for.
“And lightweight Volk will be packing a punch.”
Quizzed on defending his UFC No.1 pound-for-pound crown against a guy who sits only one place behind him, Volkanovski continued: “If I win this fight, it’s huge.
“Not only here in Australia, but globally.
“It’s already big now.
“But once I go do what I plan to do, knocking out Islam Makhachev with the world watching, creating this incredible underdog story … it will be life changing.”
