Islam Makhachev hoping for statement knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is hoping for a statement knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
Makhachev and Volkanovski meet this Saturday night in the main event of UFC 284. While many believe that Makhachev will use his grappling in order to win the fight by decision or submission, the lightweight champion is looking to score a knockout victory and make a statement about his greatness in the sport.
Speaking to Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN Deportes, Makhachev admitted that his goal in the fight is to score a knockout victory over the UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski.
Spoke with the Lightweight Champion, Islam Makhachev who wants a KO over Alex Volkanovski to prove his striking skills, prefers a fight against Beniel Dariush next and explains how Khabib Nurmagomedov is still helping with the fight plan for #UFC284
Via @ESPNDeportes @espnmma pic.twitter.com/9N48SgHKyC
— Carlos Contreras Legaspi 🦁 (@CCLegaspi) February 2, 2023
“Honestly, I want to knock him out, because everybody says Islam a grappler or wrestler, but I want to show people my striking. He is a short guy, and I really believe I can knock him out,” Makhachev said (h/t MMAjunkie.com).
As far as Makhachev is concerned, the difference in power between the UFC featherweight division and the UFC lightweight division is big, and he believes that Volkanovski will feel his power this weekend.
“This is not his area. I’m from other division. This is not the same power. It’s not the same, and he’s going to understand this, but he wants to try because he’s not losing. If he loses, what is he going to lose? Just belt with him, but he wants to try to jump and make some good money, make some pay-per-view money, but this is not his area,” Makhachev said.
The super fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski is a fight pitting the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts, which is a rarity in the sport. Right now, Makhachev is nearly a 4-to-1 betting favorite to win the fight, but you can obviously never count out Volkanovski from winning.
Do you think Islam Makhachev will knock out Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284?
