PERTH, Australia – Alexander Volkanovski thinks the weight cut is starting to take a toll on Islam Makhachev.
Featherweight champion Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) and lightweight champ Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) faced off in the UFC 284 pre-fight press conference Friday ahead of their 155-pound title fight, which headlines Saturday’s event at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
The pair put their hands on each other – but in a respectful manner in which they appeared to be sizing each other up. But with less than 24 hours to go before the official weigh-ins, Volkanovski says Makhachev appears fragile.
“I’ve been feeling more cockiness out of him from some interviews and all that type of stuff,” Volkanovski told Submission Radio. “I knew that was going to change. Right now, he’s struggling with weight cuts. He’s feeling a little frail. So I was expecting that was going to happen. Obviously, I expect smirks to change when we’re in there, as well, when I’m facing off with him when we’re actually fighting.
“He’s going to be filled up (in weight). He’s going to be happy he’s filled up when we’re fighting. But as soon as I start moving and being that puzzle and him realizing that I’m stronger than he originally thought, that smirk starts to change and that puzzled look on their face – and I always notice it.”
Volkanovski and Makhachev also were seen exchanging words, but “The Great” says it all was playful.
“I just said, ‘You ready?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, of course,’” Volkanovski said. “He has a weight cut. Obviously, he looks a little skinnier than even just a few days ago. So obviously I was always going to touch on that, just let him keep remembering that he needs to do that killer weight cut tonight. But yeah, he was like, ‘How are you? All good?’ I’m like, ‘Don’t worry, I’m strong.’ And that’s when he went for the grab.
“And I’m sure he felt the guns, you know what I mean? But it was all just playful. And then we had the belt, and he’s gone. ‘This is the real belt.’ Like, ‘That’s a fake belt.’ As if, ‘You ain’t the champ – this is the champ.’ I’ve gone, ‘Don’t matter mate. I’m the featherweight champ, and we’re going champ-champ – don’t worry.’ So just a friendly banter – wasn’t too bad. It was good – that energy and that crowd was awesome.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
