Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, is gearing up for his toughest challenge yet as he faces Islam Makhachev in front of a home crowd. In a recent press conference, Volkanovski opened up about his plans for the future after the Makhachev fight. The Australian fighter is already thinking ahead and mapping out his next steps.
Volkanovski has recently expressed interest in moving to the welterweight division. Subsequently, this would mark his third weight class in the UFC. The featherweight champion has proven himself as a dominant force in his current weight class. Moreover, the move to welterweight would undoubtedly be a major step up in competition. Nevertheless, ‘The Great’ is eager to test his skills against the best of the best.
Whether Volkanovski will make the move to welterweight or not remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – he is ready to take on any challenge that comes his way.
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Volkanovski is taking on challenges with confidence
At the UFC 284 pre-fight press conference, Volkanovski answered about his plans post-Makhachev fight. With recent comments about a potential move to welterweight, the interviewer questions if Volkanovski’s goal was to return to Australia with three division belts. In response, the featherweight champ emphasized his love for challenging himself and putting himself in difficult positions, as he believes it makes him stronger and a better fighter.
He said, “It’s going to make you stronger, trust me. I’m twice the man I was before I started this camp because I knew the challenge ahead of me. I ain’t scared of the challenge. I know I can rise to the occasion.“
Before any thoughts of moving to welterweight or winning three division belts, Volkanovski made it clear that his focus is solely on winning against Makhachev on Sunday. He knows the challenge ahead of him and is not looking past his opponent.
Alexander Volkanovski sets his sights on victory against Islam Makhachev
The featherweight champion recognizes the importance of these moments and how they can define his career. The lightweight champ may have claimed that it was a mistake to take the fight, but Volkanovski is not backing down.
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He said, “I think that’s weak, looking at it that way. You know, you should challenge yourself. You should put yourself in these positions.”
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Volkanovski mentions how he thinks about the possibility of winning the title instead of thinking about how he can lose the fight. This mentality has time and time again given him the advantage over his opponents in the past. Despite the odds and what fans may predict, ‘The Great’ remains confident in his chances.
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Who will you be supporting this Sunday? Let us know in the comments below.
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