Alexander Volkanovski feels he did enough to get the win at UFC 284 and wants a rematch with Makhachev.
People are still talking about the UFC 284 main event bout featuring lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. The bout was a hard-fought five-round war but in the end, it was Makhachev that came out on top. After the fight, there was a course of disagreements on social media. Many people thought that Volkanovski had done enough to warrant the decision, the champ included.
Volkanovski is already campaigning for a rematch against the lightweight champion and although he has unfinished business in the 145-pound division he thinks that it’s a good idea and even Makhachev will agree.
Alexander Volkanovski wants a second shot at lightweight champion Islam Makhachev
Coming into the bout many thought that Volkanovski would be undersized and would be no match for the ground game of Makhachev. He proved the doubters wrong and held his own on the feet and on the mat. Now a few days post-fight, he is taking a look back at the match and explaining why he believes he won.
“Islam put on quite a show, good close fight, back and forth and a lot happening,” he said on YouTube. “Obviously I’m gutted. Close fight, you know you’re going to hear people say robbery and things like this and in close fights you can never say they’re robberies, can you see it going my way? Yeah. Can you see it going, can people see it going his way? Yeah. That’s gonna happen. Do I think we did enough after watching back the tape? Yeah, I do, sure he would say the same when he watches it.”
Volkanovski feels that all parties involved want to see a rematch. The UFC already posted on their socials that a rematch would be a great idea. Volkanovski believes he has figured out his opponent and will be able to capitalize if and when they meet again.
“Obviously, I want a rematch, UFC’s touched on it, backstage a couple of the guys, Hunter, and a few other guys. Islam touched on it, me and Islam and we’re talking about it. I was talking to his team about it so we all said we’re going to do it but let’s hope it gets over the line,” he said. “So I’m going to push for it because I know I could get that win. I could have got that win that night right, and I feel like the next time we step in there I’ve definitely got it figured out so I’m ready for that again. It’ll be fun, it’ll be another crack and fight for the world to see.”
There seems to be a bit of unfinished business between these two men. The bout was set to find out who the pound-for-pound king of the UFC was, but even with the loss, Volkanovski stands on top of that rankings list. Makhachev could be interested in taking another shot to take that spot from him. Also a teammate of Volkanovski’s, Dan Hooker began making trouble after the bout when he called Makhachev a cheater. The drama is continuing to build.
