Tensions rise between Volkanovski, Makhachev teams ahead of UFC 294 showdown
Tension between the teams of rival fighters Alex Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev continue to rise as insults fly and questions about the lightweight champion’s weight cut continue.
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Issues around Islam Makhachev’s sketchy weight cuts continue to dominate UFC 294 fight week, with Alex Volkanovski hitting back at claims from the lightweight champion’s camp that he was two pounds heavier in their first fight.
Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, lit the fuse when he revealed Volkanovski was actually the heavier fighter at UFC 284 in February, because of the limited time Makhachev had to rehydrate between the weigh-ins and the fight.
“That really hurt him,” Mendez told this masthead. “I don’t want to get into excuses, but the facts are that he (Makhachev) had 12 hours less to rehydrate, and that on fight day Volk weighed two pounds heavier on official scales than Islam.”
That’s a claim Volkanovski, who says weighed around 170 pounds on fight day, denies.
“I don’t know what they’re talking about,” he said. “How can you say a lot of that stuff?
“It’s false. It’s beside the point.”
Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has even been drawn into the drama, with video resurfacing of allegedly dodgy weigh-in tactics ahead of his UFC 254 title fight with Justin Gaethje.
Volkanovski attempted to keep that drama at arm’s length, but his supporters have been vocal in saying the UFC must keep a close eye on Makhachev’s weight cutting and rehydration practices.
One day after cutting scheduled media appearances short due to his tough weight cut, Makhachev hit back at Volkanovski’s mate, the Kiwi lightweight, Dan Hooker, who in February claimed Makhachev illegally used an IV to rehydrate after weighing in at UFC 284.
“I know a couple of bullshit guys who want to make some drama,” Makhachev said of Hooker’s tweet.
“If you’re a professional fighter, if you say something, you have to back it up.
“You cannot say something like that if you don’t have proof.”
Despite losing their first fight, Volkanovski’s performance was so impressive that he retained his number one pound-for-pound ranking ahead of number two Makhachev.
Eight months on, the Dagestani is still fuming.
“I just want to say, about the rankings, it’s bullshit, and I don’t follow it anymore,” he said. “Last time it was number two versus number one, and if you beat number one, then number two has to go to number one.
“I don’t know who makes the rankings.”
Volkanovski promises to start faster than he did in February, and wants to stop Makhachev inside the first two rounds.
Makhachev left one last sledge for the Aussie in response.
“I don’t remember when Alex knocked out someone,” he said.
“He wants to try and pressure me, or make me think about this, but I don’t care.
“Everyone who steps into the cage wants to knock me out, but I’ve stopped them all.”
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Originally published as Tensions rise between Volkanovski, Makhachev teams ahead of UFC 294 showdown
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