Alexander Volkanovski credits UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev with a thoughtful approach.
Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) defends his title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC), which will be the main event bout at UFC 311 (pay- per-view, ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+) at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, this Saturday.
Volkanovski notices two opposing styles when it comes to their offensive approach, which he believes favors Makhachev.
“Islam is cautious enough,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “I think in most of his ground exchanges, Islam probably finds himself in better positions, and in striking, he is a lot safer. I think Arman is a lot more aggressive and probably takes more risks, which could leave openings for Islam to land blows and score points that way.
“But (it’s a) very, very interesting fight – very, very competitive. However, I think Islam will have a slight advantage. Arman shouldn’t be considered such a big outsider. Islam is really good, but so is Arman. I’m betting on Islam, the legitimate favorite here. Both are great fighters, and Islam currently remains number one pound-for-pound.”
Volkanovski faced Makhachev twice in title fights – he lost by a very close decision at UFC 284, then was stopped in a short-notice rematch at UFC 294. The former featherweight champion of the UFC believes that Islam diversifies his game perfectly.
“(He’s) very complete, showing his striking skills, so I think Arman is going to have difficulty on the feet,” added Volkanovski. “Islam is hard to touch. For someone who is a wrestler, you would think he is a pressure fighter. He also excels in hindsight. He manages the distance very well.
“He’s very good at hitting you when you’re moving forward, and when you really go for it, he can either surprise you with punches, or if you open your guard too much, he has great holds and great strikes. So I think there are real opportunities for him to take the advantage in the rounds.”
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This fight could prove crucial not only for both fighters, but also for the current MMA landscape. The different strategies of Makhachev and Tsarukyan make this duel particularly captivating and deserve further analysis to consider the implications of a victory for one or the other. What adjustments could fighters make to exploit their opponent’s weaknesses?
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