Alexander Volkanovski's coach reveals best way to deal with an armed attacker
Alexander Volkanovski's coach Joe Lopez has given fans a lesson in self-defense, advising them on how to deal with an armed attacker.
Volkanovski is currently set to face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 284 next month. 'The Great' is vying to achieve double champ status and join the elite list of competitors who have achieved that feat, such as Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier.
Whilst the featherweight champ is currently in the midst of his preparations for Makhachev, his coach Joe Lopez, sat down with Submission Radio.
The trio discussed the featherweight champ's chances against Makhachev and Lopez also gave fans tips on how to defend themselves. According to the coaching veteran, often times the best defense is being able to talk your way out of the situation. He said:
"Look, insecurity I know is a thing but your mouth is your best weapon and you try and talk your way out of it. That would be the best solution, with any violent situation, your mouth is your best weapon. If you can talk your way out of it instead of punching your way out of it, that's a better outcome for everybody."
Catch the full interview here:
Alexander Volkanovski's coach discusses gameplan for Islam Makhachev
In the same interview, Freestyle MMA head coach Joe Lopez discussed the game plan he and Alexander Volkanovski have been working on.
Islam Makhachev is known for his elite wrestling and grappling and is a former sambo world champion. The Russian fighter demonstrated his abilities when he dismantled Charles Oliveira in two rounds to win the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280.
Despite the obvious dangers Makhachev possesses, Joe Lopez explained that the team are prepared for Alexander Volkanovski to be taken down to the mat. The award-winning coach stated that the biggest problem for Makhachev will be keeping him there:
"Well, we expect to be taken down. yeah, 100%. We are not worried of being taken down. We expect to be taken down. It's just whether Islam can hold us down. That is the key, you know. We're not going there thinking it's a bad thing. I mean it comes back to, you know, the Chad Mendes fight, you know."
"Everyone was saying, you know, he is not going to have Chad Mendes's wrestling and everything else and we went with the same mindset, Chad is going to get us down but he's not going to hold us down and that's exactly what happened."