You can pinpoint the exact moment Alex Volkanovski lost his patience with Islam Makhachev’s constant excuses at their UFC 294 press conference in Abu Dhabi.
For the past four days, the Aussie has sat and listened to Makhachev’s complaints about fighting in Australia for their first fight in February.
Makhachev, who won a hotly contested decision in their first bout, has spoken about the limited amount of time he had to rehydrate, the travel, the time zone and the fans. He has even repeated bizarre claims that Volkanovski is only fighting this weekend because of the paycheck.
UFC 294: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 | SUN 22nd OCT 5AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
After seven minutes of hearing it, Volkanovski – who wore a custom made necklace saying ‘DAWG’ – rolled his eyes, shook his head, grabbed his microphone and interrupted another of Makhachev’s excuses.
“I’m here, I’m in my prime and I’ve got that dawg in me,” the Aussie said. “I’m here to put on a show, and I back myself every single time.
“I don’t need 10 extra hours for rehydration. You rely on the hometown advantage, and 10 extra hours of rehydration. I back my skills, and that’s it.”
As tempers flared, the heavily pro-Makhachev crowd at the Etihad Arena began chanting “Islam, Islam”. Meanwhile in the VIP area, superstar social media influencer Hasbulla lapped it all up, standing on his chair and shouting.
Co-main event fighters, Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman, were relegated to spectators for most of the press conference as Volkanovski and Makhachev went back and forth.
“They’re all on my side now,” Makhachev said of the raucous crowd. “Last time in Australia, but everything has changed. Everything has changed.
“Everyone knows what you need: just money, that’s it.
“There’s absolutely nothing that Alex has at stake. He’s already lost to me before, he’s not putting his win-streak on the line, he’s not putting his belt on the line.
“I’m not joking about it, he’s only here for the money. He asked for money, and he’s only here to get it.
“He’s not losing anything.”
Volkanovski hit back at Makhachev’s constant money talk too.
“I don’t know what mentality he has, but I want to avenge my losses,” he said. “It hurts me. I didn’t get my hand raised, and that hurts me.
“Now I have to do it on 12 days’ notice. I’m OK with that, I accept that and I’m here to put on a show.”
As Usman spent the better part of half an hour in silence, Chimaev started messaging a mate in the crowd and Dana White defended a journalist who was booed when he revealed he was from India.
Meanwhile, Makhachev again talked about the setbacks of fighting in Australia.
“You’re telling me that him rehydrating for 30-something hours isn’t enough, and he’s going to be stronger with 40 hours?” Volkanovski said. “Is that really what we’re relying on here?
“You don’t back your skills, I don’t get it. I back my skills, that’s the difference.
“You didn’t have power in February, because you only had 30 hours to rehydrate and it wasn’t enough? I don’t know what world you’re living in.
“I’m a fighter, I turn up, I back my skills and that’s why I’m here on 12 days’ notice. I’m the man, you’ll see.”
By the end of the half-hour press conference – which ranged from electric to bizarre – we’d had a question about what the fighters would be doing in Abu Dhabi after the fight, while an Indian journalist was booed for asking about MMA in his home country.
Volkanovski concluded the presser by asking Hasbulla – who arguably received the loudest cheer of the night – who he’s backing, before the social media sensation delivered Makhachev’s belt for official photographs to be taken.
The main event fighters ended the day with a face-off and a handshake, but the stage is set for their beef to finally be settled in the cage.
