Alexander Volkanovski, despite recent setbacks, maintains unwavering confidence in his ability to dominate any five-round UFC contest.
Islam Makhachev broke his nearly decade-long undefeated streak at UFC 284, a closely contested bout where Volkanovski's attempt to secure dual-champion status fell just short.
He rebounded with a successful featherweight title defense against Yair Rodriguez, but subsequent losses to Makhachev in a rematch and Ilia Topuria have challenged his previously dominant run.
However, Volkanovski attributes his knockout losses to being caught off guard, rather than being outmatched in a sustained fight. He believes his skill set allows him to compete on equal footing with any UFC fighter for five rounds, with a possible exception for Makhachev.
This belief in his endurance and overall fighting prowess remains a cornerstone of his mindset as he looks to rebound from his recent defeats.
Volkanovski's assertion highlights his belief in his cardio and fight IQ. He feels that when he is able to get into a long fight, he will be able to outlast his opponents. He has stated that his losses where due to him getting caught, and not due to him being outclassed.
I don’t believe anyone can beat me,” Volkanovski told Fox Sports Australia. “The only person that I can see giving me a tough fight for five rounds is an Islam Makhachev in the first one, as you’ve seen. Everyone else has just got a puncher’s chance. That’s just how I always look at it. I truly believe that, and that’s the confidence I have in myself. No one can beat me.
Following Topuria's decision to vacate the featherweight championship, Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes are set to clash for the now-vacant title. This highly anticipated main event will headline UFC 314, taking place on April 12th at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
They can catch me, so I think he needs to be reckless to beat me,” Volkanovski said. “If he tries to fight this perfect fight, it’s not going to work. He needs to try and be reckless and catch me. That’s his best chance, so he’s going to do what we all know he’s going to do and what he’s been doing, which is exciting for the fans, but it opens a lot of doors for me. … (There’s) a lot I can capitalize and that I will capitalize on.
