Daniel Cormier is not convinced that the title fight between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski needs to be run back.
Earlier this month two of the UFC’s top fighters met inside the Octagon, and the result was a fight of the year candidate. Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski put on a show in front of the Australian fans at UFC 284. Volkanovski had made the jump up in weight to take on Makhachev and although he was unsuccessful in his lightweight title bid, he impressed all who watched. The fans loved the bout so much that they began immediately calling for a rematch.
Both fighters have also agreed to a rematch but it seems that may not be the next step for either man. Daniel Cormier has been in his fair share of important fights and has held two UFC titles at once. He knows the importance of keeping the divisions moving.
Daniel Cormier feels an immediate rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski is not what is best for either division
Cormier was asked what he thought about the possibility of Makhachev and Volkanovski fighting again right away while on his show DC & RC on ESPN. Although Cormier would like to see the matchup again he worries about the forward movement of both divisions.
“I tap in on the great fight, I tap out because Islam’s got work to do in his own weight class and so does Alexander Volkanovski. Volkanovski owes it to Yair Rodriguez to go and give him an opportunity to try to become the undisputed champion of the world. And I don’t know if it’s fair to Beneil Dariush if he beats Charles Oliveira to not get his chance to fight for the lightweight championship of the world,” he said. “This is the danger in super fights because you get a close super fight and people are clamoring to see it again when in reality we have two divisions that need the champions back in order to really give us a little clarity.”
As mentioned by Cormier, there is now an interim champion in the featherweight division. Yair Rodriguez defeated Josh Emmett to win that belt on the same night at UFC 284. Volkanovski has already mentioned his intentions of falling back to 145 pounds and defending his title against Rodriguez. He still maintains hopes of facing Makhachev again done the road.
Quotes from MMA Mania
