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When he surveys the breadth of his area, Alexander Volkanovski won’t ever weep, for he’ll all the time see extra worlds to overcome.
Touchdown the featherweight title whereas downing all-time legends Jose Aldo and Max Holloway alongside the best way was the start.
Then he earned his place as the highest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet courtesy of a prolonged and dominant title reign.
After that, the one manner is up — to a shot on the light-weight title, to Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth on Sunday and maybe to the rarest air in Australian fight sports activities historical past, to locations no Australian has been earlier than and would possibly by no means see once more.
It will not be simple, primarily as a result of nothing actually nice ever is however principally as a result of Makhachev is 23-1, arduous as hell and imply as sin.
He hails from the mountains of Dagestan the place he skilled alongside former undefeated light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov all his life and was coached by the retired legend’s late father Abdulmanap. It isn’t fairly like being raised by wolves however given they used to wrestle bears rising up, it is as shut as you will get.
Merely put, in the event that they’re taking on a Dagestani wrestler most fighters cannot do a lot aside from stroll out to the Octagon with the wind of their again and hope of their hearts as a result of nearly each single one in all them is struck down with nice and horrible wrath both manner.
The Dagestan strategy of impeccable wrestling and an totally ruthless mindset ensures nearly each door any opponent tries to undergo results in the identical room.
Makhachev isn’t any exception and his thunderous, second-round submission victory over Charles Oliveira final October to win the title was a effective instance of that the majority essential of championship traits — the flexibility not simply to win, however to tear victory away from one’s opponent like an eagle feasting on the entrails of its prey.
He’s, within the custom established by Nurmagomedov, a wrecking machine. Any light-weight on the planet would have his arms full taking up Makhachev, and Volkanovski, for all his expertise and brilliance and achievement, would possible nonetheless be the underdog even when he weren’t giving up dimension, energy and attain.
Volkanovski is already the best Australian fighter in blended martial arts historical past. If he defends his featherweight title a pair extra occasions he’ll be the most effective fighter that division has ever seen as effectively.
But when he can work out a solution to the Dagestani riddle that has confirmed unsolvable to so many and beat Makhachev, he has a case to being Australia’s best-ever fighter in any fight sport.
So it isn’t only a title that is on the road in Perth on Sunday, however a legacy, the prospect to be talked about alongside the likes of Jeff Fenech, Johnny Famechon, Kostya Tszyu and Lionel Rose within the everlasting query of who’s the best fighter in Australian historical past.
It isn’t a debate with a solution however Volkanovski can enter the dialog with a win and when you’re in you do not ever go away.
In blended martial arts circles, Volkanovski is already talked about in one thing near these phrases. Males who entered the UFC lengthy earlier than him converse of the Windang product with one thing near reverence.
Josh Emmett will face Yair Rodriguez within the co-main occasion on Sunday with the winner locked in as Volkanovski’s subsequent opponent at featherweight. Ask him in regards to the man whose title he desires to take and Emmett appears like a longtime fan.
“I’ve had a watch on him for a very long time. I stated he was the one who would upset [Max] Holloway, no person believed me however he did, and he shut him out,” Emmett stated.
“He is an awesome champion and an awesome particular person and I believe he’ll shock lots of people. Loads of folks would possibly rely him out however I am not.”
Even the Dagestani crew, who bow to no person, harbour respect for Volkanovski.
They do not have a selection. Till he obtained the belt, fighters ran from Makhachev as they ran from Nurmagomedov.
Volkanovski runs in the direction of them, with all gasoline and no breaks. In the event that they’d had bears in Wollongong when he was rising up, he’d have fought them as effectively.
A loss to Makhachev would not change what’s already occurred. Volkanovski would return to featherweight and certain go proper again to dominating that division.
Even in defeat, he will not lose all the things and there’ll nonetheless be extra worlds to overcome.
But when he pulls this off and leaves West Australia with a second belt, he’ll be strolling alongside the best of the legends. Volkanovski won’t get one other shot at such glories.
The stakes cannot get any larger as a result of he is combating for a spot in endlessly and endlessly begins the second the cage closes on Sunday afternoon.
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