"No one tries to grapple him at '45" - Beneil Dariush explains why "too small" Alexander Volkanovski will have problems against Islam Makhachev at lightweight
Beneil Dariush believes Alexander Volkanovski could struggle against Islam Makhachev's wrestling and grappling due to his smaller stature and lack of being tested at featherweight.
Volkanovski is looking to follow in the footsteps of Conor McGregor and hold both the featherweight and lightweight titles. Makhachev's victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 was full of celebrations before 'The Great' was welcomed to the cage and their future bout was confirmed.
#UFC280Volkanovski enters the Octagon to accept Makhachev's challenge for the lightweight title 👀 #UFC280 https://t.co/VyNdFDLbgc
Beneil Dariush appeared on Submission Radio following his dominant performance against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 280 to discuss Volkanovski vs. Makhachev. While Dariush is vying for his own title shot, he also weighed in on Volkanovski's chances:
"I mean, obviously, I don't want to discredit him [Alexander Volkanovski] but he might be too small for 155lbs. I'm sure people said that to him at 145lbs too. We have a big weight advantage on him too. Nobody really tries to grapple with him at '45. I haven't seen anyone really try to take him down. The fact that he'd be fighting a lot of grapplers in my division... I think it's so different and I think he would have some problems with that."
The Australian is currently the UFC's No.1 P4P fighter and has looked better and better each time he has stepped into the octagon. Volkanovski is riding high on a 12-fight UFC winstreak which includes 3 wins over Max Holloway and notable victories over Jose Aldo and Brian Ortega.
Catch Dariush on Submission Radio here:
Alexander Volkanovski's coach believes Charles Oliveira would cause more problems for him than Islam Makhachev
Following UFC 280, Islam Makhachev was crowned the new lightweight champion and Alexander Volkanovski's next opponent. With the No.1 P4P in the world eyeing up double champ status, his coach, Eugene Bareman, has weighed in on the matter.
Prior to UFC 280, Bareman knew Volkanovski was planning on fighting the winner of Oliveira vs. Makhachev. According to the City Kickboxing head coach, the Russian fighter's wrestling may not prove as effective against 'The Great' because he's so powerful for someone his size:
“Every single person, doesn’t matter who you are, what experience you have, he grabs you and you feel something different. It’s a different feeling from anything that I’ve ever felt from someone of that stature. And I think the lightweight guys still feel that."
Eugene Bareman added:
"Look, I got middleweights and light heavyweights that feel it. They’re like, ‘f***** hell.' They’re really surprised when Alex grabs them."
Catch Eugene Bareman's thoughts on Alexander Volkanovski's chances here: