UFC‘s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter Alexander Volkanovski (25-1) has focused critics questioning the scale distinction between him and upcoming opponent Islam Machechev (23-1).
Whether or not or not it’s on the rugby league subject, sparring within the health club and even combating at welterweight for a number of years, Volkanovski has ceaselessly been sharpening his instruments towards folks larger than him, and this struggle is not any completely different.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Volkanovski responds to weight claims.
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Days out for his probability at double champion standing, Volkanovski has continued to hush doubters, together with Machechev, who’re saying the Aussie will not have the scale to defeat the Russian.
“I imply, that is been occurring ceaselessly, lots of people are like ‘oh he is shifting up, that is loopy,'” Volkanovski stated
“However, day-after-day within the health club, I prepare with guys heavier than me.
“This struggle is light-weight, however I prepare with like welterweights, I even prepare with middleweights.
“Particularly within the grappling, wall work, and wrestling, I prepare with folks larger than me.”
The featherweight champion identified that he typically has to decide on larger opponents to match his power.
“The blokes my dimension are normally gonna battle with me there, so I normally need to go along with the larger guys,” Volkanovski defined.
Volkanovski even fired off a warning shot to Machechev forward of Sunday’s bout in Perth.
“If he thinks I am simply going to be some weak little featherweight, then he’ll be in for a impolite shock,” Volkanovski stated.
‘Connor proper again within the conversations’
If Volkanovski can get by way of Machechev this weekend, there’s the potential he could possibly be dealing with off with Conor McGregor within the not too distant future.
For years, McGregor has been on Volkanovski’s struggle bucket record.
UFC not too long ago introduced the Irishman can be teaching towards Michael Chandler in The Final Fighter 31 between Could 30 to August 15.
A subsequent struggle will observe it, possible round September.
This places a future struggle with Volkanovski this yr probably within the combine, based on the featherweight champion.
“I imply, it simply places Connor proper again within the conversations for belts,” the Aussie fighter stated.
“And for folks to say, ‘he would not deserve it, and there is not any approach they are going to do this’, you are fairly loopy.”
Volkanovski stated McGregor would possible solely must get by way of Chandler earlier than the UFC begins fascinated with him for title competition.
“If he takes out somebody like a Chandler, you understand his (McGregor’s) title goes to be talked about. Persons are gonna be speaking about him, so it is attention-grabbing,” he stated.
“I plan on taking that light-weight belt, and I am taking a look at seeing what else is occurring in that division.”
