Michael Chiesa believes Alexander Volkanovski would become the greatest fighter of all time if he beats Islam Makhachev.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) makes his first title defense against featherweight champ Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) in Saturday’s (Sunday locally) UFC 284 headliner at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
After Daniel Cormier said that Volkanovski winning would be the biggest upset in UFC history, Chiesa took it a step further.
“Undoubtedly if he beats Islam Makhachev, he is the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of our time,” Chiesa said on Sirius XM’s Fight Nation. I just think that there’s no way you can deny him that respect. To dominate the 145-pound division the way he does, and if he goes out and beats Islam Makhachev, there is no way you cannot have him pegged as the best guy we’ve ever seen fight in the octagon. I usually say arguably, but this is an unarguable case if he beats Islam that he’s the best fighter we’ve ever seen.”
Volkanovski retained his featherweight title four times, including two defenses over ex-champ Max Holloway. He’s currently the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and has never lost in the octagon, but Chiesa thinks beating Makhachev would put him in uncharted territory.
“If Alex can go up and pull of the win over Islam, that’s a feat that nobody else has done,” Chiesa added. “Even if he comes up short, who cares? He’s gonna go back down to 145 pounds where he’s reigned supreme and just continue his run there, so there’s no losing for Alexander Volkanovski in this fight.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
Michael Chiesa: Alexander Volkanovski has ‘unarguable case’ as best ever if he beats Islam Makhachev
