UFC 294 Alex Volkanovski vs Islam Makhachev fight: Daniel Cormier says Aussie should be in GOAT conversation

He’s yet to hang up the gloves, but Alexander Volkanovski is already one of the greatest fighters of all time according to UFC legend Daniel Cormier.

Alex Volkanovski already rates as one of the best fighters of all time, says UFC legend Daniel Cormier (right). Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC legend Daniel Cormier says Alexander Volkanovksi should already rank alongside Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Longtime featherweight champion Volkanovski will step up to lightweight on just 12 days’ notice to fight 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

Cormier says a Volkanovski win would rank as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, but doesn’t believe the Aussie needs to win a belt in another weight class to be considered a great.

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Alex Volkanovski already rates as one of the best fighters of all time, says UFC legend Daniel Cormier (right). Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

“I think you can start talking about Alexander Volkanovski in the greatest of all time conversation right now,” Cormier told this masthead. “A lot of people considered the greatest of all time are guys that won belts and defended them in their weight class.

“Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre dominated their weight classes. Demetrious Johnson dominated his weight class.

“What Alexander has done in the featherweight division is crazy. It’s not too early to consider him on a shortlist of one of the greatest fighters of all time.

“It’s up to the featherweight division to catch up to him, because right now, there’s a gap between him and everyone else.”

It will be a massive upset if Volkanovski can beat Makhachev. Picture: Getty Images

A two-weight world champion himself, Cormier believes Makhachev took Volkanovski lightly in their first fight in February.

“If he (Volkanovski) wins this fight, it’ll be easily one of the biggest upsets in UFC history,” he said. “These circumstances are so hard to overcome.

“Not only are you fighting a great fighter in Makhachev, you’re fighting him on 12 days’ notice.

“You’re fighting him with him recognising the challenge ahead of him – I think he was a bit dismissive of Volkanovski last time, and I think that cost him, because you realise you’re in there with an absolute killer and it’s too late to pivot.

“This time he knows what’s in front of him and he’ll be better prepared to take on the challenge, but I don’t know that it changes much.

“Volkanovski is that good, and he’ll be a problem for anyone any time they fight.”

Makhachev and Volkanovski go face-to-face at this week’s presser. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

As a commentator for the fights this weekend, Cormier is forbidden from making predictions, but admits to being surprised at the level of Volkanovski’s wrestling in his narrow loss to Makhachev in February.

“(I was surprised with) his take-down defence and his ability to stay safe when Islam got him down,” he said. “Volkanovski’s ability to defend take-downs, then get his own take-down and top control to end the fight was really impressive to me.”

That’s a familiar theme for Cormier, who has had a front-row seat to Volkanovski’s progression from hopeful challenger to featherweight legend.

“One thing about Alexander Volkanovski is every time he goes in there, he gets better,” he said. “It was on display most in the trilogy against Max Holloway.

“Fight one was close, fight two was close, then hell, a year later – just one year – there was a river between them. An ocean, because Volkanovski had improved so much.

“Then Yair (Rodriguez), what he did to him was nuts. It just shows that this dude keeps evolving.

“I’m always in awe when this kid fights. He doesn’t get tired at all, which is impossible. You’re fighting for 25 minutes, and it doesn’t matter if you’re winning, you’re exhausted.

“Volk doesn’t look tired, and he just keeps improving every time.”

Originally published as UFC 294 Alex Volkanovski vs Islam Makhachev fight: Daniel Cormier says Aussie should be in GOAT conversation