Alexander Volkanovski believes Islam Makhachev will be too "fragile" to be smirking during fight week

Alexander Volkanovski is confident Islam Makhachev will not be smirking when he starts cutting weight ahead of their super fight this weekend at UFC 284. The featherweight champion is set to face the lightweight champion in Perth on February 12.

'The Great' will go into this contest as the underdog, owing to his opponent's remarkable grappling skills paired with his larger size. Even so, Volkanovski has not shown any signs of intimidation.

Despite numerous jabs from Makhachev about his smaller frame and lack of wrestling pedigree, the pound-for-pound king is sure about his opponent eating his words come weigh-in day.

Islam Makhachev describes running into “short guy” Alexander Volkanovski 😳

Full #UFC280 media day scrum ▶️ youtu.be/6zFVrVgzsbg https://t.co/vYvSGmEDAI

In a recent interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN MMA, Alexander Volkanovski claimed that he thinks Makhachev will be too weak to smirk at him and hopes he makes weight. He stated:

"I just want him to make weight comfortably... Obviously, we know he cuts a lot of weight and all that type of stuff... You see him smirking in the interviews and all that. This week you won't be seeing him smirking; you're going to see him struggling. He's going to be fragile. But we just hope he makes weight."

Watch the full interview below:

Israel Adesanya on Alexander Volkanovski vs. Islam Makhachev at UFC 284

Alexander Volkanovski is one of the most dominant champions in the UFC today. The Australian featherweight king is riding a staggering 22-fight winning streak and will hope to extend that at UFC 284 when he tries to capture the lightweight strap against Islam Makhachev on February 12 at the RAC Arena in Perth.

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'The Great' faces the biggest test of his career against an opponent who is bigger in size and boasts a grappling heritage unlike any other. Makhachev is also on an 11-fight win streak, having submitted Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 to win the 155-lbs strap.

Nevertheless, Israel Adesanya is confident that his City Kickboxing teammate will emerge victorious and recently expressed why he thought so in a preview for Fox Sports Australia. 'The Last Stylebender' praised Alexander Volkanovski, saying:

"They say Islam is too big, he's too strong. They don't know what I know, and that's why all the glory, the fame, the championships, and the money, my mate Volk's still the hardest worker in the room. A gas tank that will never stop. A will that won't let him."

Watch the full video below: