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Alexander Volkanovski is decided to grow to be the primary fighter to unravel the Dagestani wrestling puzzle that Islam Makhachev presents of their upcoming light-weight title struggle at UFC 284.
The winner of this bout might be topped the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, making it a very important matchup for each fighters.
Chatting with Michael Bisping in a latest interview (h/t Alexander K. Lee), Volkanovski defined why beating Makhachev is extra necessary to him than attaining champ-champ standing. He described Makhachev, who many consider is unbeatable, because the hardest problem of his profession.
“No disrespect to them, however that’s why this struggle is so large to me,” Volkanovski stated on a latest episode of Believe You Me. “It’s the Dagestani wrestling, nobody can determine this out, they’re on a roll and all that. Khabib’s there. Islam, what he’s been doing his previous couple of fights. All that. I used to be chasing the champ-champ, that’s what motivated me earlier than I knew who I used to be preventing. As quickly as Islam gained and the folks talked, one thing was identical to, bang, that’s all that I cared about is taking out Islam.
“It wasn’t even disrespect. All that stuff simply made this struggle a lot greater. Me engaging in this purpose — not solely the champ-champ, it’s clearly going to be unimaginable, having two belts — however not simply that. It’s, whereas doing that, taking out somebody like Islam. Particularly being a featherweight going to maneuver as much as light-weight, then preventing not solely any light-weight, you’re going to Dagestani-wrestling Islam who’s recognized to only stroll and management and throw round all these lightweights. ‘How’s Alex going to cope with that?’
“This simply makes after I get my hand raised, it simply makes it a lot greater. In order that’s what’s motivating me proper now, the struggle itself. It’s going to be further particular getting each belts on them shoulders, however [also] who I’m taking out within the course of.”
“Pound-for-pound and all that, it’s actually good, champ-champ,” he added. “However I used to be actually chasing him since you knock off your targets, what’s subsequent, what’s subsequent, the champ-champ’s subsequent, however as quickly because it was Islam and other people telling me — I really like folks doubting me.
“Seeing folks, like, ‘He’s going to be too large, too sturdy,’ and all this. The problem, the opponent that I’ve obtained, that excites me extra. Going for this champ-champ and taking out somebody like Islam is actually what persons are going to recollect. Lots of people suppose he’s unstoppable proper now, however I’m going to point out you that he’s stoppable and I can’t wait to go on the market and do my factor.”
It is going to be fascinating to see how Volkanovski’s abilities translate to the light-weight division and whether or not he’ll have the ability to neutralize Makhachev’s seemingly unstoppable wrestling.
UFC 284, which options Makhachev vs. Volkanovski as the primary occasion, is scheduled to happen on Feb. 12 on the RAC Enviornment in Perth, Australia.
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