Alexander Volkanovski is not phased by the short timeline he has to get ready for his rematch with Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title.
โIโm always training as we always say.โ Volkanovski said on the MMA Hour on Tuesday.
The featherweight champion revealed he was sitting on the coach, holding his newborn daughter when he received news about the match up, 11-days out from fight day.
โI was at homeโฆI was just in-between sessionsโฆ.I just sort of laughed and went โalright, letโs do itโ.โ
Volkanovski is coming off elbow surgery which left him unable to spar or grapple for months, only being able to fully train again the week before UFC 293 last month.
โI think it was UFC Sydney, maybe it was the week before that or maybe that week, I was able to start training, as in start to grapple and wrestleโฆa couple of weeks after tat I was able to spar. Iโve been able to spar and wrestle for at least a good four, five weeks.โ
Despite this inability to train, the Australian star says there is no excuse to not prepare for this match up, and his years of experience will more than make up for the short camp.
โIโm the guy who can take these opportunities because I can always do five rounds. All year round. I donโt care what anyone says, even if I donโt train for a year, Iโve been killing myself for the last 11 years. In the gym every single day. Even when I have time off now, you donโt miss a beat when youโve been training like thatโฆitโs not like I donโt now how to fight anymore.โ
Volkanovski said the shorter camp has allowed him to come into the fight โfreshโ, while his knowledge of Makhachev as an opponent is stiff fresh in his mind from the pairs first fight earlier this year.
โI believe I finish him. I think youโre going to see probably one of the most dangerous Volkanovskiโs youโve ever seen, purely because I canโt afford to do anything elseโฆI canโt afford to show him any respect.โ
The two face off in the main event of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi this Sunday morning.