UFC 284 is scheduled to take place on the 11th of February in the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main event will feature a fight between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski for the 155 lbs championship. Alex Volkanovski will challenge Islam Makhachev for the championship and will look to become one of the few UFC fighters that managed to win a championship in two different weight classes. On the other hand, with a win over Alex Volkanovski, the world’s current #1 pound-for-pound fighter, Islam Makhachev will look to dethrone him and take his place. Both fighters have had tremendous success recently, and this fight will be challenging for both! Let’s look at this match-up and give you our predictions!
Can Volkanovski Keep the Fight Standing?
Due to the fact that this is a classic striker vs. grappler fight, Alexander Volkanovski will look to keep the fight standing. He is one of the best punchers in the UFC, with 6.79 significant strikes per minute. Additionally, Volkanovski is known for his devastating leg kicks, which play a crucial role in his offense. However, he will have to face Islam’s incredible wrestling and try to survive a barrage of takedown attempts. Alexander Volkanovski has a takedown defense of 73 % and is training with one of the best grapplers on the planet, Craig Jones. The two have a great relationship, and Craig has helped Alex prepare for previous fights. If they can devise a tactic to help Volkanovski defend takedowns, it can be quite a rough night for Islam Makhachev.
Is Islam Too Good on the Ground?
When it comes to grappling and wrestling, a small number of UFC fighters can compare to Islam Makhachev. Dagestan fighters are generally ground-fight experts, but Islam Makhachev is undoubtedly the best among them. If he can employ his wrestling and get the fight to the ground, Volkanovski will be in a lot of trouble. Islam is also known for his submissions, and he has managed to submit some of the toughest UFC fighters, such as Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker, and Thiago Moises. Volkanovski will face a great deal of difficulty avoiding fighting on the ground due to Islam’s 66% takedown accuracy, which could help the Dagestani emerge victorious. If Islam doesn’t submit Alex, he can win by controlling him on the ground and inflicting damage with ground and pound, similar to the Davi Ramos fight.
My Prediction
Although this fight will be tough for both athletes, I believe Islam Makhachev will win. The grappling and wrestling advantage will be significant, and I don’t think Alex Volkanovski can knock Islam out. On top of that, Islam will have a weight advantage, and that can never be underestimated. My prediction is Islam Makhachev by submission!
Tell us your predictions down below! Thank you for reading the article, my name is Milos, and I am the head coach of Fort Jiu-Jitsu! Check us out!
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