Alexander Volkanovski’s expertise as a rugby league participant will give him an enormous increase when he faces Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title, Michael Chandler has claimed.
The Australian is bidding so as to add to his UFC featherweight title when he takes on the all-conquering Dagestani in Perth subsequent yr, with Makhachev out-grappling Charles Oliveira – the king of submissions – to win the 155-pound belt this yr.
Makhachev has the dimensions benefit for his or her match up in February, with many followers and pundits fearing that Volkanovski can have no reply for the 31-year-old’s distinctive wrestling.
Michael Chandler has pinpointed a possible benefit for Alexander Volkanovski (left)
However light-weight star Chandler believes that Volkanovski holds a secret weapon. Earlier than his MMA profession, the featherweight champion was a semi-professional rugby league participant weighing over 200 kilos, and Chandler expects the Australian to naturally be very sturdy.
‘I am an enormous Volkanovski fan,’ Chandler informed MMA Junkie. ‘He is very, superb. Is he gonna be smaller than Islam? Sure, very a lot so. I do assume Volkanovski is gonna do higher than all of us assume he does.
‘He used to weigh 210 kilos, 220 kilos, no matter he was when he was enjoying rugby. Your physique remembers that.
Dagestani mauler Makhachev has dominated his approach to the UFC light-weight world title
However Chandler believes Volkanovski’s expertise in rugby league will assist his possibilities
‘You carry that energy with you. You carry that energy with you. You carry simply the hip energy of Islam not having the ability to take him down.
‘The one factor I see is that Volkanovski is somewhat bit shorter, in order that leverage recreation of if Islam will get up beneath him, places his head beneath his chin, he is gonna have the ability to carry him off the bottom fairly simple.’
Ought to Volkanovski include Makhachev’s wrestling, Chandler expects it to be a fruitful night time for the 34-year-old.
‘Within the hanging division, Volkanovski is healthier than him,’ Chandler added. ‘I believe within the velocity and the ability division, Volkanovski is healthier than him.
The 34-year-old despatched a hilarious message to his Dagestani rival on Instagram this week
‘So, something exterior of Islam going on the market and taking him down within the first minute of every spherical and holding him down, I believe Volkanovski may truly squeak out a call. Most certainly not a end however a call.’
Volkanovski has been getting ready for Makhachev ever since he acted as again up for the light-weight title struggle between the Dagestani and Oliveira in Abu Dhabi, and he took to Instagram this week to ship his rival a hilarious message.
Zooming in on his left kneecap, Volkanovski wrote: ‘Yo Islam, your belt’s obtained my identify on it and my knee’s obtained your face on it!’
