UFC boss Dana White confirms Alex Volkanovski will fight Islam Makhachev for title in Perth

Featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski will face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in a champion vs champion showdown, according to UFC president Dana White.

Makhachev picked up a submission win over Charles Oliveira in yesterday’s main event at UFC 280, thus winning the vacant title at lightweight.

He wasted no time in calling out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who’s been determined to become a two-division title holder.

Alex Volkanovski (pictured) is the UFC featherweight champ, world No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and is keen to move up a weight division to become a dual-champion

Dana White says featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski will face Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title in a champion vs champion showdown

Volkanovski, who was at the event as a back-up fighter, entered the Octagon and agreed to the matchup to determine who the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world is.

White doesn’t usually plan new fights on the night of events, but has made a rare exception in this case. 

‘It looks like Volkanovski is next,’ White told reporters at the post-fight press conference. ‘Volkanovski never ceases to amaze me. Another incredible fight.’

The confirmation from White is great news for Australians as the pair will likely square off at UFC 284 on February 12 next year at Perth’s RAC Arena in what promises to be one of the biggest nights in Australian combat sport history.

Volkanovski (pictured right) entered the Octagon at UFC 280 and agreed to the matchup with Makhachev to determine who the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world is

The UFC boss also made mention of the dominant performance from Makhachev and how easily he overcame a very skilled opponent

 ‘Incredible,’ said White. ‘I’ve been saying all week, you have two of the absolute best in the world facing in their prime and facing off. And when I went up in the octagon after, Khabib said, ‘I told you. I told you he’s the best in the world.’

‘I mean, to beat Oliveira is one thing, to beat him the way he beat him is another. And as fast as he did it, he looked incredible tonight. The big question tonight was how is he going to deal with the pressure. And he dealt with it just fine.’

Volkanovski was also impressed with Makhachev’s performance against Olivera, but wasn’t intimidated by it.

Islam Makhachev (pictured left) of Russia submits Charles Oliveira of Brazil in their UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 280

‘I thought Islam would be able to control him a little bit more, I thought he’d be a lot stronger than Charles,’ said Volkanovski after the event.

‘Charles was still able to get up and throw submissions and he wasn’t able to control him as well as I thought he could and that just makes me more confident because I’m very, very hard, not only to take down, but to hold down.

‘Getting me down is going to be a problem and if you do, I’m bouncing right back up.’

Islam Makhachev celebrates with the belt after his win at UFC 280. He will have a size advantage over Volkanovski, but the Aussie believes he will have the skills and strength to win

Volkanovski will be at a significant size disadvantage against Makhachev, but the 34-year-old believes he has what it takes to become the ‘champ-champ’.

‘People are gonna say size this, size that but trust me, anyone that trains with me knows that strength is never a problem for me,’ he said. 

‘Everyone thinks I’m short and then I’m punching them in the face and their face changes real quick when I’m in front of them.

‘It’s definitely a challenge, I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not a challenge but is it a challenge I can overcome and get through? 100 per cent, I guarantee you I can.’

Makhachev now has now put together 11 consecutive victories. Volkanovski is still undefeated inside the UFC and boasts a 22-fight winning streak dating back to 2013.