Islam Makhachev: If Alexander Volkanovski is 'Smart,' He'll Take Time Off | UFC 294 | MMA Fighting

#UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev spoke to reporters after his knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at #UFC294, how the rematch played out, whom he would like to fight next, his advice for Volkanovski and potentially fighting at #UFC297, and more.
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[@Atlas92936]

Huge Respect to Islam. He truly is a special mma fighter. He got the title from #2 p4p fighter who had the most submissions in the UFC - Charles Oliviera. And his first two defenses were against the former #1 p4p Alexander Volkanovski, with the second fight being a 1st round KO. To not give Islam credit and recognition is criminal. For those that hate him, please re-analyze your hate for him.

[@UTW-Chico]

The hate is unreal. Islam best in the world.

[@kreedberry2478]

Well said touche

[@DannyCheatTV]

You can't argue that he's not incredible. He's just such a wet blanket.

[@Bdestiny933]

Islam demolished 3 fighters winning streak (Volk, Arman and Olivera)

[@Zendoori]

Most haters base it on religion. Corrupt and astray hate on one that’s wants to be righteous.

[@alexanderblum9882]

Real competitor answer. Tell your biggest opponent the realest advice

[@ChristoMac]

I don't see anyone beating Islam at 155 for a long time. I Love Justin Gaethje but Islam on another level, same with Charles, Dustin, Gamrot, Fiziev, etc... Unless there's someone I'm unaware of, Islam is levels above them all.

[@zbtyn]

Keep an eye on Arman. They have already fought and Arman matched Islam's wrestling and he is very young (he is 27).

[@ChristoMac]

@@zbtyn Yeah I know didn't Tsarukyan also lose to Mateusz as well...

[@Englishbeginner-bm3wv]

​@@zbtynIslam dominates Arman next time.

[@TheNicheHunter]

@@ChristoMacdid you see the fight? Gamrot did not beat Tsarukyan

[@quentin3148]

Because he’s a weight bully

[@lror]

Islam is only guy to ever beat p4p 3, p4p 1 and p4p 2 in a row. This will never ever be done again!

[@Jamesfrancosdog]

Who do you think he has beaten? His last three op pony have been Volk twice, Charles, and Bobby Green…

[@lror]

@@Jamesfrancosdog exactly who i said but I'll reiterate incase you have some concussion from the head kick. He beat p4p 3, then he went and beat p4p 1 and now he beat p4p 2, cope however you want but that's exactly his last 3 fights!

[@27k76]

justin dustin all ducking him before@@Jamesfrancosdog

[@alexferdinansyah757]

@@Jamesfrancosdog isn't that exactly what he said?

[@Bdestiny933]

And stoped 3 fighters winning streak (Arman, Volk and Olivera)

[@noelnoni7310]

That’s the best advice Volk will ever get. He already has the 35+ age curse and the EA cover curse against him. Let alone a KO concussion and then fight a hard hitting machine like Topuria

[@chrishayes5755]

@@lifechugs1101 the brain needs time to heal buddy, that KO was no joke

[@noelnoni7310]

@@lifechugs1101 I’ve seen this happen many times. History says Volk is gonna lose to Topuria and then lose a rematch to Topuria and retire at 1-4 in his last 5 and people will call him washed up like all the legends before him

[@apathofpain]

all of those curses are nonsense

[@granedplanet3826]

volk is gonna walk all over topuria

[@scumbag6175]

@@granedplanet3826Keep pumping up the Volk odds, I’ll be laughing all the way to the bank when he gets ktfo again

[@JermaineWV]

Islam is a beast.

[@farhanaf739]

Islam is the Star Risen!

[@justinstevenson3736]

Islam "just send me the name" Makhachev

[@NaMuabetSo.]

i love this kinds of fights more, meaning respectful, hard on heart and punch, went in fire in the ring bam bam finish u good the most high out of it!

[@michaelherron4306]

Good advice for Volk. Already displaying mental health issues, and now a head kick KO on top.

[@SimplyTheBestCSGO]

What mental health issue has he displayed?

[@papanutt1327]

@@SimplyTheBestCSGOlook at his post fight press conference

[@Carllee589]

Volk already said he has mental health issues and almost broke down in post fight press conference. He said if he doesn’t have a fight it gets really bad that’s why he took this fight to feel normal again. I hope he takes care of it before he retires and finds another outlet for his depression and inner demons.

[@SimplyTheBestCSGO]

Maybe problem in his marriage? I don't like to speculate but... @@Carllee589

[@tauseefahmad87]

That was the forehead kick ( Head Kick + Upper cut) that opened a wound and the rest was done by ground and pound..

[@ikhan2181]

Alhamdulillah 25-1 ☝️

[@Kozmaak47]

Interpreter is doing a great job

[@nikobellic9004]

Islam just buried 2 fighters ranked in the top 3 p4p in his last 3 fights he is the p4p king right now. Oliveira was ranked 3rd p4p. Volk was ranked number 1 p4p and than 2 in this fight Jones in his last fight lost to Reyes and Santos both unranked In the p4p at that time and than beat gane. And Santos hand both of his legs broken in that fight and he still beat up jones. So jones has zero wins against p4p ranked fighters in the last 4 years. Also 205 and heavyweight are the two worst weight class. But 155 is undoubtedly the best devision in the ufc. Islam is the true p4p king right now. The reduced rehydration window in Australia was the reason why the first fight was so competitive. Islam smoked volk when he wasn't depleted. Also this time khabib was there for this training camp training him and sparing with him too which wasn't the case in Australia . And the result speaks volumes.

[@immatt19]

I didn't know about this hydration thing. Makes sense, If everything you said is true, I agree completely.

[@joseg2994]

Yea Islam also got flatlined and Jones didn’t lol

[@nikobellic9004]

@joseg2994 what an ignorant comment by u . p4p isn't about who is the greatest of all time ginius that's why we don't look at all their career accomplishment but recent performances in the last 1 or 2 years maximum , it's about who is the best fighter currently based on their most recent fights. bringing up fights from 10 years ago isn't how p4p works. That's when you want to analyze who is the greatest in history. P4p isn't the goat conversation. Islam is abviously not the goat since it's khabib. Aldo one thing I think people don't mention enough is that Jones is also steroid abuser and got caught multiple times for it a d got suspended too, Infact even his brothers were also busted for steroid several times. Also he has zero wins against p4p ranked fighters in the last 4 years. Islam has 3 wins against p4p ranked fighter in the last 12 month.

[@NikoRiv]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@nikobellic9004Khabibs father has been quoted saying Jon jones fighting ability was “a gift from god”. Also in p4p you also have to account for every weight class the most dangerous person in the ufc right now is Jon jones and no disproving that based on what he has done even with his history.

[@jtb5729]

​@@joseg2994also Jones was disqualified for PEDs.

[@lutfi1981]

God bless him

[@TheFireStarter1215]

Free Palestine, so happy for Islam. I hope he gets through Charles & Justin, then fights for WW title & defend against Shavkat. Then he hands off LW to Usman Nurmagomedov. Crazy dynasty we are approaching in MMA from the Dagestan fighters. Mexico, we just had our 3 champs. Africa had their 3. I feel a potential 3 Dagestan champ is incoming. Umar at 135 is streaking, potentially having Usman come from Bellator for 155 & then Islam at 170.

[@lawrencehackett6479]

It's so crazy how khabibs camp just don't lose. It's crazy how anybody believes islam will lose against anybody at 155 or 170. I love colby but the only hope of somebody starching islam is if Leon fights him

[@nalathepurrfectcat]

GREAT ADVICE

[@ivanzhilin9522]

Sambo is still the king 😅

[@Safsaf10]

Cope haters 🤣🤣

[@fakhrurrazifisal7118]

Well you are right Islam

[@tuffneggah]

alex def needs to focus on family. as for islam, he moves up, usman comes over from bellator, and belal ends up moving to LFA

[@adamshakur3462]

Lmao usman bellator are you crazy

[@benlewis5312]

@@adamshakur3462 Not Kamaru. Usman Nurmagomedov, the 25 year old Bellator champ who Javier Mendes claims is the best fighter he’s ever trained. He’s Khabib’s cousin

[@adamshakur3462]

@@benlewis5312 ah sorry yes I know him. But those Dagestani guys are different man.

[@blank2426]

What is LFA?

[@buridah328]

P4P best in the world

[@robertomugabe11]

Islam , showing respect to volk before and after the fight. Meanwhile Volk before the fight: I am coming off the couch and will take that belt and he can do nothing about it. who's stopping me from keeping the two divisions busy? I won the first fight. I dont need more than 2 weeks notice to knockout this guy. Volk after the fight: the headkick was a fluke. i got knocked out because i have depression

[@nme_mma]

So true man.... no one talks about this B S

[@sgx8126]

If this fight went beyond 3 rounds, Volkanovski, who had 12 days' notice, might be affected. Going beyond 3 rounds can be tough without a full camp. However, the fight got finshed with a head kick knockout in the first round, and that kick was intentional, not accidental. So, there IS NO EXCUSE of short notice. This is a solid victory for Islam Makhachev. - Joe Rogan. Actually, it was Volk who was supposed to Ko Islam in the first round. It was his only chance. Islam beat him in his own game. Islam submitted the best submission artist, Now he Kò'd best Ko artist. 13 fights win streak, T most in the history of UFC LW. P4P king no question.

[@udaudon]

Wrong . The power , the speed , and timing was different when volk ready. He was’nt prepare. Bad decision when you fight for money as champion. Glad you fight makachev😊

[@ChaosReaper426]

@udaudon4622 volk has always been susceptible to kicks and they were money in the first fight. He just didn't throw as many in that. There was no preparation that could've prepared him for that. He was heavier than Islam too this time, meaning that he should've had a better chin too. Preparation would not have stopped that ko. And outside of that he performed better than the first round in the first fight.

[@benlewis5312]

I think Islam would have finished Volk regardless of the short notice but a training camp works on more than just conditioning. Part of the purpose of a training camp is to sharpen your reflexes as much as possible. Regardless that headkick was a brilliant read and I doubt any lightweight could survive 3 rounds against Islam unless they fight entirely defensively

[@brandoneshleman5486]

FIGHT LEON!!!!

[@nikobellic9004]

volk was always open for high kicks remember when max holloway dropped him with one . also Islam rivals volks speed. Which was the case for max holloway, volkanovski had a massive speed advantage against max that's one of the biggest reasons why max couldn't di much against him in the 3rd fight, the speed was just to much for him.

[@pujisulistyowati8489]

Volk said no to this, and he loss via ko cold

[@ZeeshanIqbal24]

These guys fight like playing chess

[@SIL1947]

Iron sharp iron

[@vaneast411]

god bless your mom and dad Islam

[@yovanydiaz975]

For someone who criticize Jon Jones PFP title Islam sure implemented his technique precisely Volk even defended the kick he's just so short it still clipped him I knew Volk and Usman were going to lose short notice fight coming off surgeries and injuries. I give those guys more credit for taking the fight and saving the card.

[@bannedone3ice138]

Na, Volk was ready. Islam said in the pre fight press conference, people will start crying about short notice.

[@yovanydiaz975]

@@bannedone3ice138 No he didn't he said he didn't train as much. Once again he was a replacement fighter this time he had short notice volk gets restless when he doesn't fight so that's why he took the fight even though it wasn't a good idea. Islam had a full camp volk didn't, he had notice the first time he could possibly be a replacement. That's why their first fight went the distance and in a lot of peoples opinion he won. Volk is originally scheduled to return in January but he wanted to step up and save the card. Islam nor khabib would ever try to be double champ like volk did. Islam said that because he knew he had the advantage it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that.

[@blank2426]

​@@yovanydiaz975are you crying because Volk has lose so bad headshot?

[@ashervirin9698]

The cover curse hit volk HARD, it is truly undefeated. Islam is a great champion though no joke. If he beats gaethje or even charles again, I think that establishes him well enough as a dominant champ to challenge for welterweight, although it would be stayed at lightweight for a little longer than that

[@ITJustMeKG]

anyone else think they kept Islam way too long during this presser? he did a phonenmal job answering questions like a true champ but I don't understand the need for 45 minutes of questions for a fight that lasted 3 minutes

[@Mak2Grim]

Because the fight was only 3 minutes they have to use up all the air time

[@Atlas92936]

Cause media won’t stfu

[@Naksu..]

Alex should fight Topuria next.. respect the featherweight division. Dont make them wait. Alex should also stop dreaming of becoming two division champ. He and Craig Jones mocking Makhachev this past few months. They should stop disrespecting the lightweight division. No midget in this universe can take over UFC lightweight division. Dagestani hammerfist on the head. KO...

[@beerz6393]

please don't . Volk need to rest until he is ready

[@walterfunes9979]

How did he have the head kick planned for months if it's a short notice

[@pizzagateisreal]

He must have knew he would fight volk again in the near future

[@Wayne_R]

Although I appreciate the UFC for allowing them to say whatever I will not stand with Palestine or Israel

[@ChrisAcheson]

Volk took this fight on too short notice. Money isn’t everything.

[@salahali9793]

True. I'm islam fan but I know volk is crazy fighter

[@peepwrld4063]

Money wasn’t the reason. If you think that you are a fool. he’s been struggling with mental health issues when out of camp/not training for a fight.

[@Carllee589]

Correct he said he took this fight to feel “normal” again and started crying due to his mental health issues. Pray for Volk he is a good man.

[@kamalakelly6208]

Yes but still his skills were there and he wasnt gassed out if that was 3/4 round .. there is no excuses for Volk Funs

[@JebediahSpringfield]

lucky kick. just like martins lucky punch knocked you out

[@youthoftoday]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 need tissue brother?

[@joshuataylor3523]

If you're the greatest then go up in weight

[@TheFifapro44]

He's trying to, so maybe support the idea so we can see it happen 👍🏼

[@user-my4ur8fi8r]

Islam should pay attention to what his country is doing to Ukrainian kids and civilians before he can speak about Palestine and Israel

[@25klay]

learn ur history first and see what did they take from this world before u talk about ukrainian

[@user-my4ur8fi8r]

⁠@@25klay I learnt the history of Ukraine (as you said “my history”) when I was in school, in Ukraine, and know precisely what I’m talking about. I suggest that you learn a little bit of English, because there’s just “you, your, they” without any context

[@edwinfitrianto5304]

Yea,in ukranian the big devil is usa and nato

[@charliesgaming9585]

Who is here after Islam loss against ilia?

[@the9357]

Volk no islam.. 😅

[@nme_mma]

Are you drunk?

[@charliesgaming9585]

@@nme_mmayes, I was High on that day

[@nme_mma]

@charliesgaming9585 fair enough bro 😆

[@LSMG2004]

Boooooooooooooooring

[@alifahaisyah2405]

Cryiiiiiiiiiiiiiiingggggggggg😂😂😂😂

[@sheikmufeed1920]

Why are you here then go cry about volkanowski

[@kayyell2231]

Mueh mueh mueh.....😂😂😂😂

[@Carllee589]

What do you expect from these UFC post fight questions it’s the same thing every time

[@dentalworld3629]

hhhhh cryiiiiiing . i like that

[@Jamesfrancosdog]

This guy doesn’t deserve a shot at being champ champ. Not until he defends against an actual lightweight. He hasn’t earned one bit of my respect yet. Beating Dan Hooker and Bobby green for his shot the belt? Are you kidding me?

[@Daddy-do8bn]

Go to sleep bubba

[@yantiaryanti9925]

So respect from you is some important think?

[@Santiago6553e]

Hope he fights Justin early next year or sooner

[@Safsaf10]

😂 who are you?

[@ace3589]

Justin is the fight to make

[@goldman4492]

All this P4P talk is cute and all but.....Jon Jones is the king of P4P

[@jtb5729]

By taking PEDs

[@sheikmufeed1920]

He lost to Dominic Reyes, some beleive and analyse that he lost to Alexander Gustafson 1, took 2 years to prepare for Francis , see Dana interview about Jon Jones vs Francis he said Jon Jones was scared , positive for roids and what not he has done , Rank 1 Dana's Boy

[@abhilash3748]

Definitely Jones is the best PfP fighter of all time but is he #1 at this point of time? Islam's last 3 wins are against top 3 PfP fighters including 2 finishes.

[@goldman4492]

I see your point, when Jon Jones retires after his next fight I would have Islam moving into the #1 position as far as active P4P rankings. I do believe Islam being 31 and depending on how active he is in the next 5 years has the most potential to be the P4P #1 of all time. @@abhilash3748

[@granedplanet3826]

jon jones isnt anywhere close to #1