Alexander Volkanovski expects Islam Makhachev rematch, vows a 'bigger ending' to their story

Alexander Volkanovski feels robbed of his moment to become UFC dual champion at home.

Featherweight champ Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) was edged out by lightweight champ Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) in February at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia, in a fight he thought he won.

Volkanovski dropped Makhachev in Round 5 and ended the fight in top position, but the judges valued Makhachev’s control time more.

“The whole thing, me moving up, challenging myself, wanted to have my moment in Australia, haven’t fought in Australia for how long, haven’t defended the belt, haven’t been able to do that, and then have a fight like that, and then finish like I did,” Volkanovski said on IMPAULSIVE. “Then think we’re gonna have this f*cking moment. Let’s do it. I was ready for it, and it was just taken from me. So I was pretty f*cking disappointed with that.”

Volkanovski will look to unify his belt with interim champ Yair Rodriguez (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the UFC 290 headliner on July 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Volkanovski takes solace in knowing that a rematch with Makhachev could be on the horizon if he gets past Rodriguez – and if he gets his opportunity, he plans on leaving no doubt.

“We’re probably gonna do the rematch anyway,” Volkanovski said. “That makes it easy for me, just adds to the story. We move on. You’ve got to move forward and just play on. Obviously it sucks, but I’ll get the rematch, I’ll win, and then we’ll make a bigger fight and a bigger ending to that story anyway.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.