Holy S**t: It's Actually Happening

Forget What You’ve Heard,
Alexander Volkanovski Is The Greatest Athlete Australia Has Ever Produced

Before we proceed, can I just say: holy f***ing s**t.

What a day to be even remotely associated with MMA journalism.

In the span of a few hours:

• Charles Oliveira withdrew from next week’s UFC 294 (Abu Dhabi), where he was scheduled for a rematch against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev due to an eyebrow laceration that requires stitches.

• Alexander Volkanovski was called to serve as a replacement on 11 days notice; which he obviously accepted without hesitation because our featherweight titleholder/former P4P king lugs around boulders of steel.

• And now, UFC 294’s co-main event is in jeopardy as CEO Dana White indicates Paulo Costa may be pulling out from his own much-hyped bout against his cyberbullying victim Khamzat Chimaev.

But let’s just focus on the first two points, eh?

As heartbreaking as it is to learn Charles Oliveira’s would-be reclamation of the lightweight throne will simply have to wait (especially as a die-hard Do Bronx fan), the prospect of Islam Makachev vs Alexander Volkanovski II is more than just a consolation prize.

With all due respect, it’s the ultimate upgrade. And as counterintuitive as this may sound, I believe Volk has an even greater chance of success this time around than during his first encounter with Makhachev at Perth’s UFC 284.

Let me explain.

Aside from the fact that we received confirmation that Team Volkanovski had largely solved the Dagestani puzzle with the humble butterfly guard along with some well-timed scrambles during the ground fighting exchanges — thanks in great part to ex-Danaher Death Squad member and elite submission grappler Craig Jones — we learned two things:

1. Alexander Volkanovski is a freak of nature whose athleticism, developed during his time as a 97-kilo semi-pro rugby player, simply cannot be contested with in the featherweight/lightweight divisions (not even by Islam Makhachev).

2. Even when Makhachev “controls” the exchanges on the ground, it is indeed possible to completely nullify any damage output and any threat of submission.

In other words, we shouldn’t be framing this as a question of: “Is Volk prepared to face Islam on short notice?” Instead, we should be asking: “Will Islam be prepared to face Volk?”

Because keep in mind, Islam Makhachev has spent a full training camp readying himself for an opponent known for trading on his feet with reckless abandon and virtually no defensive manoeuvres (as per the Chute Boxe Academy signature); an opponent who — while a decorated submission artist in his own right — can be overwhelmed by aggressive enough wrestling.

Now, Islam Makhachev is running up against potentially the most surgical striker currently on the UFC’s roster with unbelievable fight IQ; someone who remarkably improves round after round a la Max Holloway III; someone with a battle-tested wrestling toolbox and an incredibly low centre of gravity.

Oh… and he’s pretty f***ing pissed about the fact he lost the last lightweight title fight on home turf due to somewhat questionable/somewhat understandable judging.

So what’s the gameplan for the homegrown hero this time around?

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Back in July, I spoke to Alexander Volkanovski about the matter during Sydney’s Foxtel x UFC announcement event.

“What is it? Sprawl and brawl. So it’s pretty obvious it’s gonna be that,” he said.

“Look, you might even see more wrestling. I think I can take him out there as well. That just shows you how well-rounded I am: I believe I’ve got a lot more tools and ways of winning this time. Especially with the confidence.”

Volk added: “I know he can’t break me, and I know he can’t hold me down. And I know I don’t need to worry about that. So now he needs to worry about these [raises both fists.].”

If Alexander Volkanovski pulls this off, I don’t care what anyone says: he’s the GOAT. Plain and simple. We can even take this outside and fight about it if you want. I’m dying on this hill.

God-f***ing-damn… Can it just be next week already?

— GL

“Somebody come look at this.”

Brilliant promo.

It’s just a damn shame this is where the entertainment value for Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou will (probably) peak.

But I’m more than happy to be proven wrong.

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