Alexander Volkanovski has been backed to overcome the “s***show” that will precede his next UFC title blockbuster, and by the fighter who knows best what is coming after a stoppage loss to lightweight king Islam Makhachev.
Only five weeks after being stopped by Makhachev at UFC 294, Volkanovski is already back training for his next championship showdown – a huge featherweight title defence against undefeated Ilia Topuria at UFC 298.
While some UFC commentators are already questioning if the February bout is too soon, and how Volkanovski will be first up after the loss, The Great has received strong backing from American lightweight favourite Bobby Green.
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This Sunday at UFC Austin, Green is looking to score his third straight win for the year, and a push closer to the division’s top 10, against Jalin Turner.
Back in 2022 however, the American suffered a first round TKO loss against Makhachev in what would be the Dagestani’s last appearance before winning the world title.
Like Volkanovski, the fighter dubbed ‘King’ accepted his opportunity on short notice – having only 10 days to prepare – and was also stopped in a tick over three minutes.
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From there, Green dropped his next fight against Drew Dober, then endured a No Content against Jared Gordon, before responding with consecutive wins against Tony Ferguson and Grant Dawson.
So as for what advice he would give Volkanovski?
“The advice I would give Alex is simple: Keep going,” Green told Fox Sports Australia this week.
“Because when you look at all the things he’s done, all the accomplishments he’s earned, Alex really is a warrior.
“But still, he’s going to hear now the same thing I did: ‘Hey, you lost to Islam Makhachev’.
“After the Makhachev fight, people were trying to tell me I was a loser.
“Didn’t matter that I’d been in a fight 10 days earlier, that I’d then cut weight again … it was all just a s***show.
“It’s the same with Alex.
“You get caught with your pants down and people want to judge you for it.
“Doesn’t matter what you went through to get there.
“All that matters is win or lose.”
So how do you find a way out?
“It all comes back to what you’re built from,” Green continues.
“And I know Alex, he’s made of solid steel.
“We’re both guys who prove ourselves winners over time.
“While I lost that fight, I came back.
“And now here I am close to Islam again.”
In fact, Green is convinced he will upset Turner this Sunday on his way to eventually facing the UFC lightweight champ again.
“It’s only a matter of time,” the now 37-year-old insisted.
“And there’s a lot of things I’d do differently, too.
“What I learned with Islam, you can’t make a mistake with him.
“You make even one mistake, he starts chaining things together and it’s hard to stop.
“In our fight, I went in for a choke instead of fighting the takedown off, and that cost me everything.”
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Initially slated to fight New Zealand favourite Dan Hooker this Sunday, Green is instead set to throw down against Turner following the late withdrawal of ‘Hangman’, who suffered a broken arm in training.
“And I think it’s awesome us not being prepared for each other,” he said of the fight with Turner.
“It’s just two guys being thrown together and then, ‘fight’.
“So it’s more realistic.
“More like life would be.”
Incredibly, it will also be the fifth fight Green has taken within the past 12 months.
“And that’s something even Alex Volkanovski can’t say he did,” the American grinned.
“Something Dan Hooker can’t say he did. Something Israel Adesanya can’t say he did.
“Every time I’m called, I’m going to step up.
“I feel confident in my skills … (laughs) and skills pay the bills.”
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