>
Alexander Volkanovski gives fans a sneak peek at how he plans to beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, but diminutive TikTok star Hasbulla says there is NO WAY the Aussie can win
- Volkanovski trying to become two-weight champion in Perth
- Aussie gave hints about how her training for the fight has changed.
- Hasbulla backs his Russian compatriot to ‘crush’ his opponent
Alexander Volkanovski has hinted at his game plan for the biggest fight of his life as he looks to join the very select band of UFC two-weight world champions when he fights Islam Makhachev in Perth next Sunday.
The Australian is looking to add the Russian’s lightweight belt to his featherweight belt when the pair meet at UFC 284 and his chances of an upset have been dismissed by a host of pundits, and little TikTok star Hasbulla. , but a new video shows that he’s undaunted and has a few tricks up his sleeve.
In the clip, the 34-year-old acknowledges that he has a mountain to climb against the bigger and stronger Makhachev, considered one of the best wrestlers and wrestlers in the sport.
But Volkanovski says “strength has never been an issue for me” and insists he has found a way to do what many judges thought would be too high an order for him given his incredible record in the Octagon: improve as a fighter.
Volkanovski (pictured beating Max Holloway last year) says he’s been training in ‘a specific position’ for his lightweight title shot against conquering Makhachev
The Aussie (pictured third from left after his last strength training session before UFC 284) has been pushing hard in his bid to join a very select club of two-weight champions.
“I found a way,” he said.
‘I go into every session I do with a specific position for this fight…Right now, every minute I spend in the gym is specific to Islam.
‘Obviously, if we don’t get shot down, yes, beauty. But in my head I need to prepare like we’re going down.
‘I need people to put me in the worst possible position that I can [be in] and I will fight for it.
Even if it puts me in a bad light, you’ll probably see a smile on my face. You’ll probably see me talking a bit, is this all you got?
Watch me get up Stand up and say, you’re not as strong as I thought, okay? I’m not as small as you thought.
Hasbulla is hinting at fellow Russian Makhachev (pictured together last October) to ‘crush’ the Aussie, joking that he has already beaten Volkanovski twice.
Many good judges, like former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, have wrecked the Australian’s chances of taking his second belt.
Cormier went so far as to say that he will have to pull off the biggest upset in the history of the sport if he is to emerge victorious.
Hasbulla went even further in a video he recorded with the Full Send podcast earlier this week, saying his Russian compatriot “is going to crush him because I already beat him twice myself.”
I smashed a hamburger in his face once. Islam is not going to feel it at all.’
He was referring to the pranks he played on Volkanovski when he visited Australia last October for a whirlwind tour.
The good judges are backing Makhachev to win, with former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier saying the Australian will have to record the UFC’s biggest upset to avoid defeat.
The pair then met backstage again at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi, where Hasbulla pretended to drag him to the ground before kicking and punching him.
Makhachev is extremely confident in a win that he says will make him the pound-for-pound king of the UFC, a title currently held by Volkanovski.
The Russian doesn’t mind that he has to do it in front of what is sure to be a rabidly pro-Australian crowd at the sold-out RAC Arena in Perth.
‘It doesn’t matter. The people inside the arena can’t help him. When the cage closes, no one can help him,’ she said. fox sports.
‘He is a good striker but this division is not for him because 155 [pounds] it’s great guys. I think some problems have been created in this division.