Rated as one of the best professional MMA matches in 2023, the competition between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski witnessed two contemporary UFC champions competing. While Volkanovski has to spread from Featherweight to Lightweight, Makhachev has the advantage of holding weight and is more appreciated.
In the statements before UFC 284, Makhachev continued to confirm that he would win easily against Volkanovski. The defending champion of the Lightweight Championship even called the opponent “dwarf”, mocking the height of the difference between the two. Makhachev is also in very high form after winning Oliveira.
“After fighting Volkanovski, I will weigh on Welterweight,” Makhachev said. The Russian boxer added: “I fought the strongest boxers in the current weight class, and all defeated them. There was no opponent worthy for me to fight anymore, so I will go to Welterweight and challenge the best boxers there.”
At the present time, Welterweight Champions are Leon Edwards. This class also has many strong boxers such as Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev. However, Makhachev said he only played the champion. He doesn't care who is holding the belt, because Makhachev is ready to defeat both Usman and Edwards.
Before the match against Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev was more appreciated. He played in the balance class, and had just had a convincing victory. The only disadvantage of Makhachev in the upcoming match is that he no longer has Khabib accompanying in the training area as before.