Conor McGregor thinks Alexander Volkanovski needs to overwhelm Islam
Makhachev with force in their potential champion-vs.-champion fight next year.
After Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) claimed the vacant lightweight belt against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi this past Saturday, he set the stage for a showdown with featherweight kingpin Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC), potentially at UFC 284 on Feb. 12 in Perth, Australia.
If made, the fight would mark just the sixth time active divisional titleholders would face each other in the octagon. McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC), however, doesn’t seem to think the public cares, and posted on social media that the matchup only would do double-digit pay-per-view buys (via Twitter):
My two old belts. On two little ticks. This fight does 10 buys pic.twitter.com/8AIzVyxQUl
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 24, 2022
Volkanovski responds
McGregor’s dig about the public interest around the matchup sparked a response from Volkanovski, who used McGregor’s own words against him in a retort (via Twitter):
A former wise man once said… pic.twitter.com/uxuAeib75l
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) October 24, 2022
A former wise man once said…
A former wise man once said… pic.twitter.com/uxuAeib75l
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) October 24, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s protégé became the UFC lightweight champion with a dominant two-round submission win over Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
During his post-fight speech, Makhachev called for a fight with Volkanovoski who was sitting cageside after weighing in as a backup fighter ahead of UFC 280.
The long-time UFC featherweight champion entered the octagon and squared off with the new lightweight king as they talked up a potential clash in Australia next year.
While ‘Notorious’ stayed uncharacteristically quiet on fight night, he had a lot to say on Sunday evening about the men who currently hold the titles he once held as dual-weight UFC champion.
“My two old belts. On two little ticks. This fight does 10 buys,” McGregor wrote alongside a picture of Makhachev and Volkanovski on Twitter.
Volkanovski hit back, as he shared an old tweet from the Irishman that read: “Winners focus on winning. Losers focus on winners,” with the caption: “A former wise man once said…”
McGregor responded: “Just watching and monitoring mate. That’s all. Happy for you in the spot tbh. I’ll be back. This is not over. You know.”
The current 145lb champion added he’d be happy to face McGregor when he returns from the injury that has kept him out of action since July 2021: “Respect brother. Will be happy to welcome you back.”
After successfully moving up from featherweight to win the lightweight title, the 34-year-old offered Volkanovski some advice on how he should approach his 155lb debut against Makhachev.
“And we dance on. Good. I was in your exact spot one time don’t forget. 145 coming up,” McGregor added.
“Good luck. I’d say go heavier. Rugby days. Be a bowling ball. That’s how I’d do it as you.
“Your condition right now as i see it, I don’t know. But bowling ball style for you for best chance.
“Aim to head butt the chest cavity.”
McGregor held the lightweight and featherweight belts
McGregor’s recovery from the fractured tibia and fibula he suffered at UFC 264 appears to be complete but his comeback has been delayed for at least six months due to a drug test rule.
UFC president Dana White recently revealed that his biggest star must undergo six months of United States Anti-Doping [USADA] drug tests before he can fight again.
As of late, McGregor has been filming his movie debut in the Dominican Republic and it is currently unclear when he’ll be ready to commit to a fight camp and year-round USADA tests.
So, it could be even longer than six months before he fights again.
