Morning Report: Israel Adesanya predicts Alexander Volkanovski stops Islam Makhachev in round three

19/10/2023 13:00

Israel Adesanya has full confidence in Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 this Saturday.

It will be champion vs. champion in the UFC's return to Abu Dhabi. The withdrawal of former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira from his scheduled rematch with current title holder Islam Makhachev forced the promotion to pivot. As a result, one of the craziest short-notice replacement possibilities came in the form of the 145-pound titlist, Volkanovski.

Makhachev and Volkanovski first went toe-to-toe in "The Great's" backyard of Sydney, Australia at UFC 284 in February. Unfortunately for the featherweight king, Volkanovski suffered defeat via an ultra-competitive unanimous decision. Always rooting for his friend and teammate, the former two-time middleweight champion Adesanya believes the fact that Volkanovski already fought Makhachev will raise his chance of victory significantly.

"When I was watching that fight live, you could see him getting more confident," Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. "He just knew like, 'This is it.' Then he just put it on him.

"What I'm really feeling is that this is his moment where he does this with the cojones he does this with and finishes Makhachev and it sends him into a different stratosphere where everyone has to respect. Like yo, he is that dude. 'Volk' is that guy. He knows he can get it done."

Since the pair fought last, Volkanovkski has gotten back in the win column, defending his 145-pound title with a flawless third-round TKO performance against the then-interim champion Yair Rodriguez. The fight took place at UFC 290 in July and the Australian is getting to continue his active ways with intentions of this time bringing a second title to his homeland.

Volkanovski echoed that he believed he won the fight as soon as it ended and has wanted his rematch ever since. Despite the short-notice circumstances for this impromptu sequel, the lighter-weight champion expects to finish Makhachev this time and so does "The Last Stylebender."

"Now he knows what he brings," Adesanya said. "'This guy can take me down? He can't keep me down.' I can get back up and f*** him up. So, now he knows what to do and he doesn't have to worry about 'I need to last with this guy. Only 11 days, cool. I been on the couch, cool.'

"When it gets to the fourth and fifth round, watch 'Volk' not get tired. I don't think it's gonna get that long. I honestly think third round, maybe even second round, but I think third round, 'Volk's' gonna finish him. Catch him with a shot, drop him, and ground and pound him to a finish. If he submits him, that would be f****** insane but I think 'Volk's' gonna catch him and drop him and finish him."

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VIDEO STEW

The MMA Hour.

UFC 294 Media Day.

Embedded 3.

Top Finishes: UFC 294 Fighters.

Greatest Hits: Magomed Ankalaev.

Full fights.

Fight week.

LISTEN UP

No Bets Barred.MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew and Conner Burks discuss whether Alexander Volkanovski can get his revenge against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.

MORNING MUSIC

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Alright, dude.

Bones.

Drama.

New York Stamp.

301 (more).

Damn.

Tough guy.

Wild.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Beneil Dariush (22-5-1) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (20-3);UFC Austin, Dec. 2

Shamil Gaziev (11-0) vs. Martin Buday (13-1); UFC 296, Dec. 16

Josh Emmett (18-4) vs. Giga Chikadze (15-3); UFC 296, Dec. 16

Neil Magny (28-12) vs. Mike Malott (10-1-1); UFC 297, Jan. 29

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'm not sure what all to make of the Kamaru Usman stuff but if he did hurt himself, this may very well be his last fight and that's a pretty big bummer. Here's to hoping we don't get another T.J. Dillashaw situation.

Thanks for reading!

EXIT POLL

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