Volkanovski accepts Perth mega-fight after taunt

Alex Volkanovski is acceptable to combat Islam Makhachev successful Perth for the UFC lightweight rubric adjacent twelvemonth aft accepting Makhachev's situation successful Abu Dhabi connected Sunday (AEDT).

Australian Volkanovski, the featherweight champion, entered the Octagon with Makhachev aft the Russian bushed Charles Oliveira successful a 2nd circular submission to assertion the vacant lightweight belt.

Makhachev's coach, UFC fable Khabib Nurmagomedov, called Volkanovski retired aft the triumph astatine UFC 280.

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Alex Volkanovski enters the Octagon to judge Islam Makhachev's challenge. (Twitter)

"Now is our plan, alert each the mode to Australia and combat successful the pound-for-pound king's backyard, Volkanovski," Nurmagomedov said.

Makhachev past chimed successful by asking: "Where is the abbreviated guy?"

Volkanovski, who was astatine the lawsuit arsenic a back-up fighter, stepped up to the plate.

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"The lightweight connected the line, the pound-for-pound No.1 connected the line. Let's bash it," the 34-year-old superstar said earlier shaking hands with Makhachev.

The brace are acceptable to quadrate disconnected astatine UFC 284 connected February 12 adjacent twelvemonth astatine Perth's RAC Arena successful what promises to beryllium 1 of the champion combat nights successful Australian combat athletics history.

Makhachev, 31, has a cleanable 11-0 grounds portion Volkanovski has agelong expressed his extremity to determination up successful value people and go conscionable the 5th simultaneous treble champion successful UFC history.

UFC champion Volkanovski sits down with WWOS

Volkanovski has won 12 fights successful a enactment since entering the UFC.

"I person a caller target. I person to beryllium pound-for-pound No.1, that's wherefore I person to spell to Australia and bushed this guy," Makhachev told reporters.

"Volkanovski's tough. He has bully skills, bully striking crippled but helium is tiny for this division, I think. If helium wants to leap to 155 pounds, let's bash this, but this value people is not his level."

Alex Volkanovski celebrates aft the 5th circular of a ascendant win. (Getty)

Earlier connected Sunday, bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling retained his rubric with a 2nd circular stoppage triumph against erstwhile two-time champion TJ Dillashaw successful an all-American encounter.

Dillashaw dislocated his near enarthrosis aboriginal successful the fight.

He said afterwards that helium had apt dislocated his enarthrosis "a bully 20 times passim grooming camp."

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