Alexander Volkanovski loses almost TWO STONE in epic 11-day body transformation ahead of Islam Makha
Alexander Volkanovski has completed an epic body transformation in order to successfully make weight for his title fight at UFC 294.
‘The Great’ was on holiday with his family when Charles Oliveira got injured and he received the call to face lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi on 11 days’ notice.
On Friday, the 35-year-old was the first on the scale and successfully weighed in at 154.5lb to make his title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammate official.
Volkanovski lost an incredible 26.5lbs for his shot at double champion status.
The long-time featherweight titleholder had just started a weight loss journey before a call from UFC CEO Dana White kicked his cut into overdrive.
“It was pretty impressive but obviously I was holding a lot of water,” Volkanovski told TNT Sports after making the 155lb lightweight limit.
READ MORE ON ALEX VOLKANOVSKI
“I was on a little holiday with the family, and I was enjoying it. I was enjoying the sun, a couple of drinks and eating very well.
"It’s funny, I had a day head start before I got the call up because I saw that weight, and I was not happy with how heavy I was.
"Literally, when I got the call, I was a kilo or two lighter. I was like, ‘It’s not as bad as yesterday, we’ll get it.' We had to move some kilos, but my body just knows, it literally does.
“I flip the switch, the weight went off and my body just kicked into gear.”
Most read in MMA
Volkanovski first fought Makhachev at UFC 284 in February.
The Australian gave him all he could handle over five rounds and was considered unlucky by many to walk away with a unanimous decision defeat.
Volkanovski unified the featherweight division with a third-round TKO win over interim 145lb champion Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July.
Makhachev hasn’t fought since, but a second successive win over Volkanovski will likely see him end 2023 atop the UFC’s pound-for-pound list.
ncG1vNJzZmiskaG4tLzOq6tnm5%2BifLS8zquraGlmZYZ0fpNomKWdqJa7pbHRZq2opJuWu7DC0qSgZqynpHq0wM6nnGaan5nGbsDRmqWsnp%2BnuqLAyKilZq2WmHpzhZNo