Former pound-for-pound king Alexander Volkanovski entered UFC 298 with sights set on reclaiming his dominance following a chaotic 2023. The year saw the Australian fighter in the Octagon three times, emerging victorious once against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 but suffering two defeats, including a courageous attempt to claim the lightweight title from Islam Makhachev.
In a recent interview, Volkanovski openly discussed his quest for a second championship and his plans for the coming year.
Alexander Volkanovski talks on Islam Makhachev loss
Alexander Volkanovski started 2023 with a closely contested lightweight title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia. Though Makhachev ultimately emerged victorious by unanimous decision, Volkanovski’s performance sparked heated debate, with many fans and fighters believing he deserved the nod.
Headlining UFC 290’s International Fight Week PPV, Alexander Volkanovski cemented his featherweight reign with a dominant third-round TKO victory over Yair Rodriguez. Following a successful surgery, he was ready to face Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title at UFC 297.
However, he would replace an injured Charles Oliveira on 12 days’ notice to fight Islam Makhachev and suffer a brutal first-round TKO loss via head kick. Alexander Volkanovski spoke about the loss in his recent interview with Zac Pacleb of UFC.com. “I was getting greedy. I wanted to win another, but that’s a part of it.”, said Volkanovski about the reason for his TKO loss to Makhachev at UFC 294.
“At least I still get to defend, and I get to get back in there and keep being successful and keep making that money for me and my family.”, Volkanovski further said, grateful for having the featherweight title and thereby contributing to the successful livelihood of his family. The Australian champion will do his best to keep it that way but the undefeated Ilia Topuria is a scary proposition to take on.
Volk vs Islam head-to-head
Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev are ranked third and first in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, respectively. When the duo initially crossed paths during UFC 284, Volkanovski held the top ranking while Makhachev followed closely in second place. The ranking remained unchanged despite Makhachev’s victory at the PPV. Jon Jones could potentially stake his claim as the pound-for-pound king if he were to secure the heavyweight championship at UFC 285.
With Jones back at the top, Makhachev fell to third and Volkanovksi to second. That could change after UFC 294, where Makhachev’s knockout victory over Volkanovski might establish him as the new pound-for-pound champion, potentially pushing Jones to second place and Volkanovski to third. Islam Makhchev’s win solidifies his 2-0 record against the featherweight champion.
The initial bout they had at UFC 284 was highly competitive. The fight was named the best fight of 2023 by ESPN MMA and the UFC. The fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev was closely contested, with both fighters showcasing new elements in their already dominant game. The scorecards show scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. However, it’s worth noting that the full story is not completely captured in that statement. In addition to hurting Makhachev, Volkanovski also managed to finish the fight on top, delivering a series of ground and pound strikes.
Unlike the first fight, the rematch at UFC 294 was very one-sided with Makhachev knocking out Volkanovski very quickly in the first round. The loss has not stopped Volkanovski from angling a trilogy against the fighter he believes is the best fighter in the world. However, Makhachev also has similar plans of becoming a double champion and angles a fight with Leon Edwards for the welterweight title.
Do you think Alexander Volkanovski will become a lightweight champion in the UFC? Leave your comments below!
