Alexander Volkanovski is daring to be great yet again this weekend at UFC 294. The featherweight champion is moving up a weight class for the second time to take on familiar foe, Islam Makhachev. The lightweight king was preparing for a different rematch against Charles Oliveira, but he is out, and the Australian stepped up without hesitation. In this article, we analyse Volk’s chances against Makhachev and look at what makes him so special.
UFC 294: Alexander Volkanovski vs Islam Makhachev 2
The two champions are ready to face off again, this time on short notice. The first fight was a thrilling back-and-forth encounter with both athletes putting on a high-level mixed martial arts display. Ultimately, Makhachev was victorious, but the debate over the decision is still alive today as the bout was undeniably close.
Many questions have been raised over Volkanovski’s decision to take this fight on 11 days notice. How tough will the weight cut be? Will his cardio stand up to the task at hand? Will the fact that this is a short notice fight actually help the Australian? These are questions we won’t know the answer to until fight night, but Volk certainly believes that this is his time.
Volkanovski is one of a kind. A fighter of his calibre is rare, and if there is anyone that can beat the dominant lightweight champion without a full camp, it’s him. ‘The Great’ has lived up to his nickname by dethroning the brilliant Max Holloway and completely taking over the featherweight division. He has unquestionably learnt lessons from the first fight, but must be aware that he is coming up against a fighter who is in top shape and ready for anything.
How Volkanovski Can Win
Most of the pressure will be on Makhachev in the rematch. Volkanovski will enjoy himself and probably try some different things, and he will likely look to finish the Dagestani. The submission threat from Makhachev is always there. He is a strong wrestler who is able to control people, and did so at times in the first fight. Volkanovski fought well, but Makhachev realised that if he waited for Volk to come to him, he could counter strike effectively and get his wrestling going.
Volkanovski will use his feints, footwork and movement to create openings. He will pick and choose his moments to go first in this one, and might look to crowd Makhachev and throw fast combinations. Shifting and rushing in though may leave him vulnerable to attacks again especially if he is too eager for the finish. If he stays patient, Makhachev might become frustrated and make mistakes.
The leg kicks of Volkanovski are an effective part of his game. After throwing a combination with his hands, Volk may find that the leg kick is there for the taking and use this strategy to slow Makhachev down. If Makhachev decides to shoot for a takedown to break up Volk’s game plan, the Australian could once again have an opportunity to reverse this and land some of his vicious ground and pound as he did in the final round of the first encounter.
Conclusion
This fight is just as intriguing as the first one. The added questions over the short notice only make this more interesting and I have no doubt that we will see another close fight. Volkanovski has the opportunity to add to his already incredible legacy, and truly become one of the greatest we have ever seen in the sport. To do this, he only has to take out one of the most superior and technically sound lightweights in history.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
