UFC 251: Alexander Volkanovski promises to finish Max Holloway
Alexander Volkanovski remains “pissed off” with the lack of respect he received after winning the UFC featherweight title from Max Holloway - but the Aussie has plan to change that in the Fight Island rematch.
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Alexander Volkanovski remains “pissed off” with the lack of respect he received after winning the UFC featherweight title from Max Holloway - and is now promising to finish the Hawaiian great in their Fight Island rematch.
Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Volkanovski promised to “send a message” when he faces Holloway in a blockbuster UFC 251 title fight in Abu Dhabi on July 12.
Back in December, the Shellharbour native scored arguably the greatest Australian sports upset of 2019 when he took Holloway’s title via a comprehensive decision win at UFC 245.
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Yet despite Volkanovski winning three of five rounds with two judges - and all five rounds with a third - he was forced to listen on afterwards as both the dethroned champ and some US commentators suggested the result was contentious.
“Yet that fight, I was completely dominant,” Volkanovski said. “So I feel disrespected.
“Even now, I feel pissed off.
“I know I won that fight clearly.
“But still there were people saying ‘oh, you got lucky’. Even with Holloway wanting the rematch straight away … I just don’t believe I got the credit I deserved.
“So this fight, I’m going to send a message.
“And that doesn’t just mean winning, because I’ve already done that.”
Asked what was in store for Holloway, the Aussie continued: “I went out last time and beat him five rounds to nil.
“So I know I’m the better fighter.
“But that’s no longer enough for me.
“A lot of people think Max Holloway can’t be finished – so that’s now my goal.
“I’m going to finish him inside five rounds.
“Mark my words, I am finishing him.
“There isn’t going to be any commentators saying it’s close this time. Max won’t be sitting there afterwards thinking he won, either.
“I’m going to put him away.
“There will be no doubters left after this one.”
Better, Volkanovski gets to make his statement on Fight Island.
As revealed by UFC president Dana White this week, the hyped location is actually Yas Island - a popular tourist destination in Abu Dhabi where the UFC will now hold four shows in July.
And it starts with UFC 251, an event with three title fights including the welterweight bout between US champ Kamaru Usman and Brazilian challenger Gilbert Burns.
Elsewhere, Brazilian great Jose Aldo will fight Russian Petr Yan for the vacant bantamweight belt.
“So it’s going to be great,” Volkanovski laughed. “This is a huge card, with three title fights and on Fight Island.
“It’s going to Mortal Kombat shit.
“Better, I have something to prove too. So I’m going to make some noise and put on a show. I can’t wait.”