‘We’re locked in’ – Alexander Volkanovski official backup for UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev, says he’s next in line
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkov`s choice for a light-weight identify combat would possibly simply come earlier than expected. At least, that`ll be the case if both Charles Oliveira or Islam Makhachev can`t make it to the principle occasion of UFC 280 later this month in Abu Dhabi.
The 34-year-vintage former rugby participant commenced campaigning for his possibility to turn out to be a department champion manner lower back in April, following his TKO win over Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273.
“I need this identify combat. I referred to as for it due to the fact I suppose I earned it. We`re seeing men get the hazard at a 2d identify for plenty much less than what I`ve done,” Volkanovski defined in an interview on the time, including that he wouldn`t pass as much as light-weight for some thing much less than a identify shot.
In a vlog uploaded to his YouTube channel on Monday, October 10th, `The Great` showed that his cross-divisional hopes have come to fruition. It appears, even though Oliveira vs. Makhachev is going in advance as planned, enthusiasts can assume to look Volkanovski combating for a 2d belt someday withinside the close to future.
“Yeah, we`re locked in as a backup fighter [for Oliveira vs. Makhachev at UFC 280]. You know, I`ve been calling for it, I stated I need it. Just needed to make certain the hand become all good,” Volkanovski defined.
“So we’re good, we`re locked in. We`ve were given the clearance to combat. The UFC`s on board, everyone`s on board, so I`ll be at UFC 280 to make weight. And yeah, searching ahead to it. Let`s see what happens. If a person doesn`t make it, I`m right here to store the day. If now no longer? At least I`m locked in as the subsequent man to combat for that light-weight identify, and that`s that.” Alexander Volkanovski
Interestingly, identify challenger Islam Makhachev appears to already be organized to tackle a replacement opponent. Teammate, mentor and previous light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov teased the concept lower back in September that Oliveira wouldn`t make it to the bout. At the time, however, it appears he become looking forward to pinnacle contender Beneil Dariush to be withinside the backup role, as he`s already set to combat former KSW champ Mateusz Gamrot similarly down the card.
‘We’re locked in’ – Alexander Volkanovski official backup for UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev, says he’s next in line
“I simply suppose Charles Oliveira will now no longer display up in Abu Dhabi and the UFC will update Charles with Beneil Dariush,” Khabib wrote in a put up on social media. “Regardless of who the opponent will be, [Islam Makhachev] is on his manner to turning into the first-class withinside the world.”
All this hypothesis and making plans occurred after Oliveira did not make weight for his UFC identify protection towards Justin Gaethje lower back in May of this year. While `Do Bronx` nevertheless gained the combat through first spherical submission, he become stripped of his identify due to his incapacity to make it right all the way down to a hundred and fifty five lbs. The trouble regarded to stem from a miscalibrated scale that induced numerous combatants troubles that combat week. However, given Oliveira`s lengthy records of weigh-in issues it`s no wonder that group Makhachev has remained skeptical.
