Alexander
Volkanovski gave Islam
Makhachev all he could handle. It wasn’t quite enough.
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Makhachev won a closely-contested unanimous decision over
Volkanovski in a champion vs. champion clash at UFC 284
in Perth, Australia, on Saturday night, staking his claim to the
sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound spot in the process. Volkanovski
nonetheless raised his stock in defeat, as he held his own against
a larger opponent in all aspects of the fight.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Volkanovski acknowledged that there
were missed opportunities that could have swung the scorecards in
his favor.
“I could’ve done more, so I’m going to be hard on myself. A lot of
people probably counted me out, like, ‘Oh, wow.’ But I never
counted myself out. I expected to win, so I’m disappointed,”
Volkanovski said at the UFC 284 post-fight press conference.
“I know I could’ve done more, could’ve capitalized on things
earlier as well. I did think he was going to be stronger, and I
could’ve done more earlier. But what do you do? Credit to him,
yeah?”
Volkanovski’s tone changed a little later, however, when he took to
Twitter to share his thoughts after rewatching the bout.
“Just watched the fight, I definitely think I won [rounds] 2, 3 and
5,” he wrote. Surprised I didn’t get my hand raised! Let’s do the
rematch, anywhere, anytime.”
Just watched the fight, I definitely think I
won 2,3 and 5. Surprised I didn’t get my hand raised! Let’s do the
rematch, anywhere, anytime! 👊— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski)
February 12, 2023
Not surprisingly, Makhachev disagreed with that assessment.
“Just watched the tape, and have to be fair, out of 25 minutes Volk
got last 1 minute,” he wrote.
Just watched the tape, and have to be fair,
out of 25 minutes Volk got last 1 minute!— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA)
February 12, 2023
It’s unclear if an immediate rematch will be in the cards.
Volkanovski has a featherweight title unification bout looming
after Yair
Rodriguez claimed the interim belt in the UFC 284 co-main
event, and Makhachev has a number of challengers waiting in the
wings at 155 pounds.