- Michael Bisping shared his honest take on people writing off Alexander Volkanovski ahead of UFC 284
- “The Count” said Volk should be able to motivate himself by all the criticisms
Michael Bisping said a lot of people doubt Alexander Volkanovski’s capability to stop Islam Makhachev at UFC 284. While that might be true, the former middleweight champion explained how “The Great” could use that negativity to his advantage.
Volk shouldn’t get carried away
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping said Volkanovski should let himself be fueled by the criticisms. The Brit also pointed out that no matter how Makhachev’s accomplishments seem to convince fans that he’s unstoppable, all that will dissolve in a snap when Volk wins.
“In this sport, in mixed martial arts and generally all combat sports, you’re only as good as your last fight, as soon as you lose one, you’re washed up, you’re old news. The fans, they’re fair-weathered, fans are sometimes fickle and they forget what got you there in the first place. Not all the time but a lot of the time,” Bisping began.
“I guess maybe this isn’t the best example but it’s the most recent one Charles Oliveira… he went out there and… [Islam] beat him at his own game and this is where all the chatter starts when people say, ‘Oh look at this, see I told you, I told you he was a quitter. I told you was the type of person to give up.’ Well, that isn’t the case whatsoever but as I say you know they forget about the great one that Charles had now that’s what Volkanovski wants you to remember, he wants you to remember how great Islam is right now. The version of Islam that you have in your head right now, this unbeatable person, this person that’s gonna dominate the lightweight division forever, remember that person in your mind because as far as Volkanovski’s concerned, he’s going out there this weekend, he’s gonna beat it and all these people that are writing them off that is the best motivation that he could possibly have,” he continued.
That’s the case right now
Based on the things he’s been reading and the way Volkanovski has been incredibly vocal about finishing Makhachev, Bisping is certain the UFC’s pound-for-pound king is nothing but “fired up” heading into the biggest fight of his career.
“People are writing him off you see what people are saying they’re saying he’s too small, he can’t wrestle, he hasn’t got the kind of technique to go off and beat one of these powerhouse Daghestani wrestlers and grapplers. If he hits the floor, he’s gonna get submitted. On the feet, he’s gonna get clipped, he’s too small in the clinch, he’s gonna get taken down and tossed around all day long. My Go! Volkanovski is fired up!,” Bisping speculated.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚-𝙤𝙛𝙛… 👀
Makhachev 🆚 Volkanovski will be EPIC 🤩#UFC284 | February 11 | BT Sport pic.twitter.com/FA1yswNNTK
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) January 24, 2023
Volkanovski and Makhachev have already been having quite a back-and-forth heading into a fight with both champions swearing to take each other out. UFC 284 is highly touted as the biggest fight of the current year given it’s the first time in history that the No. 1 and the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter will face each other. In fact, UFC president Dana White predicted that Makhachev vs. Volkanovski will even break the UFC’s all-time PPV record.
