Alex Volkanovski has let it be known that he feels no pressure going into UFC 294.
Volkanovski saved the day when he agreed to fight UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a short-notice rematch. Makhachev was scheduled to fight Charles Oliveira in the UFC 294 main event on October 21 in Abu Dhabi. Once “do Bronx” suffered a deep cut on his eyebrow during a sparring session, that plan blew up in smoke.
The reigning UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski was given the call for the last-minute chance to avenge his February 2023 loss to Makhachev, and he did not hesitate.
Alex Volkanovski Talks Accepting Islam Makhachev Rematch
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Alex Volkanovski discussed accepting the short-notice fight with Islam Makhachev.
“It’s an opportunity,” Volkanovski said. “A lot of people won’t do these things, but yeah, would I prefer a better camp? Of course. Everyone would, you know what I’m like with my preparation. I like to make sure, but I’m the man for the job. If anyone can do this on 12 days’ notice, ‘off the couch’ as they would say, it’s me, and I get to go and shock the world.”
Volkanovski admitted that the fight offer caught him by surprise.
“It’s crazy, it really is,” Volkanovski said. “It was a shock to me. They said it to me and I’m like, ‘Wow, okay, did not expect that.’ It’s not like I’ve been like, ‘Oh, just in case, you know, I’ll stay in camp just in case this happens,’ ’cause obviously, I had my surgery, and then I had to wait until January.”
Volkanovski Says Pressure Is On Makhachev
“The Great” ended the video by sending a strong message to the reigning UFC lightweight champion.
“No pressure on me, baby, no pressure at all,” Volkanovski said. “All the pressure is on him. I’m coming off the couch, you better do something about it.”
Here is the full video of Alex Volkanovski addressing his short-notice UFC 294 title fight:
