Volkanovski, Holloway vow a fight to the finish

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Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee: Alexander Volkanovski (left) punches Max Holloway in their title fight during UFC 245 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, last December. Volkanovski took the title by unanimous decision. -- AFP file
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee: Alexander Volkanovski (left) punches Max Holloway in their title fight during UFC 245 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, last December. Volkanovski took the title by unanimous decision. -- AFP file

Abu Dhabi - The mouth-watering rematch, as part of UFC 251, is set to take place at the Flash Forum on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi on Sunday

By Ashwani Kumar

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Published: Tue 7 Jul 2020, 9:30 PM

Last updated: Wed 8 Jul 2020, 1:54 PM

At the UFC 245 last December, Australian MMA star Alexander Volkanovski won the UFC Featherweight title with a unanimous decision against Hawaiian champ Max 'Blessed' Holloway. However, views from the general public and Holloway himself, that Volkanovski was a lucky winner, continues to rattle his mind even now.
The champion and the challenger want to clear the air with a fight to the finish at the Flash Forum of the Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. It will be an encounter not just for the title but respect too.

In the first virtual media day of the pay-per-view UFC 251 on Fight Island, Volkanovski underlined he wants to be the greatest of all time in his division and Holloway - with most victories in the UFC featherweight history - is a means to achieve that glory.
"Max (Holloway) somehow thinks that he won the last fight and still talks about it. But this weekend I will not leave any doubt. He is not being himself and saying crazy things. I am the champ. I beat him. I don't know if he is playing or making others believe what he is saying. He is a bit of a sore loser. Losing is tough and maybe that is why he is acting like this," Volkanovski said on Tuesday.
Volkanovski clarified that he never sought a rematch but it was offered by the UFC.
"This is what the UFC were asking for but this ended up being the fight I wanted. The biggest fight of my division is Max. There are no clean number one contenders. He is still in his prime. You take on one of the greatest of all time and a lot of people take his name as G.O.A.T. And for me to take him down back-to-back is saying something for my profile and the division. I am the best Featherweight fighter today and want to be the all time best," the 31-year-old said.
"I still got some people who doubt me. There are a majority who know how I won the last fight and that I will do that again. But there are people who still think Max can take that away from me. I don't want to leave any doubt in anyone's mind. And that's the sort of champion I am. To be the best, you got to beat the best. And there are still some people who think Max might be the best. He is not and I will prove that this weekend. This is the biggest fight for me."
However, Holloway, who had defended his title stoutly on three occasions before UFC 245 happened, downplayed the high stakes involved.
"This is another fight to me. I will fight wherever the UFC and fans want. The champ called me out and that's why we are here. I can't wait to go out there, do my thing and have fun. I don't want to leave it to the judges. I am looking for a finish. It's been a while since I finished. So that will be a good fight," the 29-year-old said.
Holloway reiterated that he should have been the winner and still the champion.
"I can't wait to get this done. I thought I had done enough (to win). I have my shot now and don't want to miss it. Now it's show time."
Holloway claims to have prepared for the fight through coaching sessions over Zoom. Both the fighters are enjoying their time inside the Safe Zone before the big day on Sunday inside the Flash Forum.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com


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