Alexander Volkanovski is up against a tall order on February 12 at UFC 284 as he squares off against Islam Makhachev, who is gunning for both the title and the pound-for-pound throne that Volkanovski currently sits on. This fight has sent ripples through the UFC community, and it’s easy to see why.
The hype surrounding this bout is off the charts, and the promotional machine for UFC 284 is already in full swing. However, ‘The Great’ made an interview unforgettable during the UFC 284 promotional activities with his witty response to the interviewer’s off-the-wall request. Fans were left rolling in the aisles, eliciting all sorts of reactions, making the champion’s lighthearted approach a standout moment proving that even the most composed fighters can have a playful side.
Alexander Volkanovski caught in ‘wrong vibe’
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It’s not easy to catch Alexander Volkanovski off guard, but a recent interview managed to do just that. The interviewer, with painted nails, asked the champion to hold his hands during the interview, to which Volkanovski responded with a chuckle, “That legit?” questioning the reality of the situation.
The Australian’s reaction to the unusual request from the interviewer mirrors the incident with Floyd Mayweather, when the boxer refused to take a picture with a boy who had painted nails.
Reporter with painted nails wanted to hold hands with Volkanovski during the interview. Volkanovski reaction killed me 😂 pic.twitter.com/28BP1uCRvz
— AWUREDO (@AOUREDOO) January 29, 2023
The unconventional request set this interview apart from the typical ones and some fans even threw in a reference to Israel Adesanya.
Check out the fans’ responses to the bizarre interview question put to ‘The Great’:
Respect @alexvolkanovski you didnt get pressured to do something you didnt want to do 💀😂😂
— AWUREDO (@AOUREDOO) January 29, 2023
Wrong vibe 😂 😭 pic.twitter.com/BJlNfbPSZy
— Nan Buisnes (@TheTrojanIcarus) January 29, 2023
Let’s not act like this is a normal thing to ask a fighter during an interview. Majority of people would be thrown off by this question 😂
— Casual_MMA (@Casual_fanMMA) January 29, 2023
Volk said “you mind if we THROW hands?”
— 🇮🇹🇮🇪🇺🇸 (@AIRlunchbox) January 29, 2023
— Prime Islam (@PrimeIsIam) January 29, 2023
I'm guessing this was some prank reporter. Or UFC just letting any random person interview champs. 🤨
— Eno Har🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@Eon1Eno) January 29, 2023
Volk was like : pic.twitter.com/G0JsoPDhhq
— SIU ™️ (@bzkobi95) January 29, 2023
And the fans brought in Israel Adesanya’s mention to it, too:
He should’ve interviewed Izzy instead lmaoo
— SheikhDana (@they_fight) January 29, 2023
Bro getting interviewed by an Izzy fan 😭😭😭🤣
— Michel Pereira's top control (@PereiraBackflip) January 29, 2023
Did Israel Adesanya referred this dude? Wtf lol
— Miguel (@jawbreakermma) January 29, 2023
Having said that, Alexander Volkanovski remains focused and ready for the upcoming fight. And it appears that Islam Makhachev is going to have a tough time given that ‘The Great’ is claiming to be ‘twice as strong’ now.
Islam Makhachev is going to have his hands full
Alexander Volkanovski is pulling out all the stops for his upcoming fight against Islam Makhachev. He is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation and is determined to become Makhachev’s worst nightmare. The champion fighter exudes confidence as he prepares to defend his title and solidify his place as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
During his interview, Volkanovski said, “The fact that I’m moving up, doing the bulking. And alright, I am telling myself, ‘right, we need to get stronger, we need to work on that takedown defense’. All of a sudden I’m twice as strong as I was,”
He further added, “My defense is just on point. I’m like an absolute brick wall when people are trying to run into me, and they feel it, they instantly feel it as soon as they grab a hold of me, or we grab each other. They can already significantly see the strength, so it just makes you think where I go from here.”
With both men determined to come out on top, this fight promises to be a showcase of thrilling action and unforgettable moments. Who do you think will emerge victorious? Let us know in the comments below.
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