"I'll fight him a couple of months after" - Alexander Volkanovski addresses Beneil Dariush's concern that he will hold up the lightweight division
After UFC 280, it was made clear that Alexander Volkanovski is likely to get the next lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev. However, this has jeopardized the immediate future for Beneil Dariush, the only man in the top five of the lightweight rankings who's yet to challenge for UFC gold.
With Volkanovksi set to make a bid for his second title, concerns have been raised about how long of a gap would 'The Great' need before defending each of his titles. The featherweight champion believes he has already proved that he is not one to hold up a division.
Alexander Volkanovski also has an evident liking for Dariush due to 'Benny's eagerness to fight. The 34-year-old said in an interview with Submission Radio:
"I actually like Beneil. One of the nicest human beings you ever meet, nothing but respect to him. He's even talking about, if I'm next he'll go fight whoever else he can. If he's there on the sidelines, I'll go take that belt and tell him, 'Hey, couple of months, let's do, where are we doing it?' You know, but he love to fight. And I love that. If he does fight on that card and I get that belt, I'll fight him a couple of months after if I have to. Because he deserves that."
Watch Alexander Volkanovski's comments at the 26:50 mark of the video below:
Alexander Volkanovski won't be worried about the takedowns when he fights Islam Makhachev
Khabib Nurmagomedov predicted that his protege Islam Makhachev will choke out Alexander Volkanovski in signature style when they clash for the UFC lightweight title. Volkanovski finds it funny that the Dagestani brigade sell their wrestling like no one else has ever wrestled.
While he hasn't needed a wrestling-focused camp as of yet, Volkanovski claims to always be in practice. 'The Great' also admitted that he will definitely have one for his clash against Makhachev. However, the UFC featherweight champion has vowed to be as confident as he has always been on the feet. Volkanovski further told Submission Radio (13:13):
"It's funny. Because I think they are the only guys that just wrestled or something. As if we haven't been training wrestling. Have I focused on that in my last few camps? No. But am I always wrestling? I'm always wrestling. But again I haven't needed to have that as a part of my gameplan...But now I will focus on that. But again, mark my words, you're gonna see the same man on the feet as you always do in my last few fights."