There is very little time left before the main fight of February in mixed martial arts.
Already this weekend, two UFC champions Islam Makhachev and Alex Volkanovski will meet in Perth.
The excitement around the fight in Australia is significant.
And according to head of promotion Dana White, the confrontation will be "one of the five greatest events of all time."
“The arena is already sold out.
If you want to buy a ticket now, you won't be able to do so.
Everything is going to be the biggest numbered tournament in Australia, which is now about six percent behind the third fight of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in pay-per-view sales.
We'll probably break the record.
Therefore, when someone says that the fight was not promoted, it's just ridiculous.
This is what we call bullshit on the internet,” White said in an interview with MMA Fighting.
By the way, it was Makhachev who spoke about the insufficient PR campaign last week.
According to the Russian, it would be possible to tour America and attract more attention from the audience.
However, the athlete's dissatisfaction was attributed to translation problems.
“The media always distorts the words of the fighters.
Islam is ready to confront.
This fight is on trend, it will be one of the biggest in the history of Australia.
And the belt will return to Dagestan, ”wrote Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdel-Aziz on his page on the social network.
The head of the UFC himself explained the dissatisfaction of Islam with the difficulties of translation.
According to White, he discussed this topic with the fighter.
“The guy speaks Russian, it could be taken out of context.
In addition, he lives in Dagestan.
What does he know about how the promotion of the fight is done?
He doesn’t know anything,” the head of the organization stressed.
In the meantime, the athletes are completing preparations for the head-to-head confrontation and share their impressions of the path they have traveled.
Volkanovski, as it turned out, the new challenge forced us to reconsider several nuances at once.
“I needed [to] add some explosive power.
For this task, we sharpened the training program, as well as the diet, so that the correct [groups] of muscles develop.
I may not be the height of a lightweight, but I've faced real monsters all my life.
Even in the gym I work with guys who are twice my size, ”said Alex.
So, according to the Australian, he, together with the coaches, first of all, needs to find the key to the Dagestan wrestling, which is admired all over the world.
“These athletes know how to act.
They are strong, powerful, persistent, hardy, but so am I.
And Islam will not have a technical advantage, we are preparing accordingly,” Volkanovski added.
Craig Jones, a well-known specialist in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, helps him to identify weaknesses in the technique of the Russian.
“The main weapon of Islam is not even takedowns and submissions, but the ability to control an opponent on the ground.
He holds them well and they make mistakes.
And then he finishes them.
This is what we focus on during training.
We want to deprive the opponent of the advantage in control.
And find a way to get back on your feet”, — quotes the words of Jones UFC Russia.
However, Volkanovski's plan does not surprise Makhachev at all.
According to Islam, Charles Oliveira, defeated by him, acted in the same way.
“He invited a wrestler from Iran who helped him in preparation.
And this guy made the Brazilian believe that his wrestling got better.
Now Alex is doing the same.
He has recruited grapplers to train and now he expects to confront me on the ground.
But this is not his element.
As a result, Volkanovski is waiting for the same outcome, ”said the lightweight champion.
At the same time, Makhachev plans to experiment in the upcoming fight.
In particular, he will try to knock out an opponent.
“Everyone says Islam is a grappler or a wrestler, but I want to show people my standup punches.
He is a short guy and I really believe that I will knock him out.
This is not his territory.
I'm in a different division.
At this weight, not the same strength.
Volkanovski will understand this as soon as the fight begins.
He wants to try, because he still does not know the bitterness of defeat, ”said the Russian.
At the same time, according to Javier Mendez, Makhachev's coach, the opponent will be able to count on success only by staying on his feet and continuing to box.
“He is not able to bring Islam to the ground, he will not pull him in the stalls.
He has one option to win, but we have a bunch: knockout, submission and the rest.
We can win in many ways.
He has one chance: to knock out Islam.
Is it possible?
Yes, everything is possible.
But this is the only positive scenario for him, since he is not developed in all aspects.
Makhachev is a comprehensively developed fighter ... Also, as far as I know, Islam is one of those who misses the least blows.
Do you know why?
Because he is very good, ”Sport-Express quotes Mendes as saying.
Makhachev himself considers the upcoming one to be easier than the confrontation with Oliveira, as Alex tries himself in a new weight category.
However, Volkanovski is counting on such an attitude.
According to the Australian, experts praise Islam too much, and this can play a cruel joke on him.
“If he doesn’t take me seriously and thinks he can easily beat me when things turn out wrong, it will beat him mentally.
There are people around Makhachev who say that he is good in everything, including striking.
We'll see," Alex said.
Well, the opinions of experts about the winner differ.
For example, former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya supports the Australian.
He drew attention to how seriously Volkanovski takes preparation before each fight.
“They say Islam is too big and strong.
But people don't know everything.
Despite his fame and fame, titles and money, my friend Wolf is still working harder than others in the gym.
He will never run out of gas, he will never lose his will, ”admitted Adesanya.
According to the Russian Bellator heavyweight fighter Valentin Moldavsky, the compatriot, on the contrary, will cope with the Australian without any problems.
“The UFC is actively rocking Volkanovski, presenting him as a fighter of a different level, but I am sure that for Islam it will be, if not an easy walk, then a calmly and confidently won fight.
I think he will beat the opponent ahead of schedule.
Islam is an experienced fighter, and the factor of a foreign field will not affect him in any way, but he simply will not bring the matter to the judicial decision and will finish it earlier, ”quotes the words of the Moldavian Metaratings.
On the side of Makhachev, of course, is Khabib Nurmagomedov.
He will miss the fight this time, but continues to help Islam remotely.
“Me and my slippers will not be in Australia, but you, brother, are the best in this game.
Repeat and prove to them that you are the first, ”Khabib wrote on social networks.
Unlike Nurmagomedov, Oliveira flew to Australia.
According to rumors, Charles could become a substitute in the title fight, although there has been no official information from the UFC on this matter yet.