Push Admin

MMA: Volkanovski 'ain't scared' ahead of blockbuster UFC title bout

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="UFC featherweight champion, Australian mixed martial artist Alexander Volkanovski, arrives at a media event at Observatory Hill Park in Sydney, Australia, 17 December 2019. File photo. Dan Himbrechts, EPA-EFE." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/02/11/mma_alexander-volkanovski_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>UFC featherweight champion, Australian mixed martial artist Alexander Volkanovski, arrives at a media event at Observatory Hill Park in Sydney, Australia, 17 December 2019. File photo. Dan Himbrechts, EPA-EFE.</figcaption></figure></div>PERTH, Australia -- Alexander Volkanovski has vowed &quot;I ain&#x27;t scared&quot; as he prepares to step up a level and collide with Islam Makhachev in a blockbuster champion-v-champion UFC 284 bout in Perth on Sunday.The Australian featherweight (145 pounds) title holder has moved up a division to challenge the Russian lightweight (155 pounds) kingpin, and in front of 15,000 home fans he fancies his chances.&quot;I ain&#x27;t scared of a challenge, I know I can rise to the occasion,&quot; said the 34-year-old, who is on a 22-fight win streak that has cemented his standing as the top pound-for-pound talent in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.&quot;I know it&#x27;s going to make me better and that&#x27;s what people remember. He&#x27;ll sit there and say I&#x27;m crazy for stepping up and all that, I think that&#x27;s weak looking at it that way.&quot;I think you should challenge yourself. You should put yourself in these positions. Don&#x27;t look at what might happen if things go wrong. Let&#x27;s look at what happens if things go right.&quot;Volkanovski, a former boxer and rugby league player, is attempting to become only the fifth two-weight mixed martial arts champion. He weighed in at 154.5 pounds on Saturday.Makhachev, the number-two ranked pound-for-pound fighter, came in at exactly 155 pounds for his first title defence since dethroning Brazil&#x27;s Charles Oliveira via a second-round submission at Abu Dhabi in October.But he needed to strip down to make the weight.The 31-year-old, unbeaten in his last 11 fights, is adamant he will be a comfortable winner, claiming the Australian will be out of his league in a higher division.&quot;Because I am the champion and this is 155 (pounds), this is not his area,&quot; he told reporters. &quot;This is other power, other division, I&#x27;m going to beat him easy.&quot;&quot;Of course I respect him,&quot; he added. &quot;He&#x27;s (number one), pound for pound, but many people say Islam is the best fighter in the world right now, and Sunday I&#x27;m going to show you why the people think this.&quot;Volkanovski&#x27;s move to lightweight will see a new interim champion at 145 pounds, with contenders Yair Rodriguez of Mexico and American Josh Emmett competing in the co-main event.The winner will battle Volkanovski at a later date to unify the featherweight crown.<div>© Agence France-Presse</div>

Alexander Volkanovski has vowed 'I ain't scared' as he prepares to step up a level against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth on Sunday.