Alex Volkanovski’s trainer Joe Lopez explains why he beat Islam, Khabib and Conor McGregor at UFC 284
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Alex Volkanovski’s trainer Joe Lopez is quietly convinced the featherweight pivot will etch his name in the history book at UFC 284 against Islam Makhachev – and insists his fighter would have no problem neither will octagon legends Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Volkanovski, 34, will make his lightweight debut against all-conquering Dagestan in a bid to join a very select group of fighters to reign in two divisions.
Alex Volkanovski’s trainer Joe Lopez is quietly confident the featherweight pivot (pictured together in 2020) will make history at UFC 284 against Islam Makhachev
Volkanovski, 34, is a big underdog against the Russian – but Lopez thinks you’d be crazy not to bet your money on the reigning featherweight champion
The Aussie is clearly an underdog, but trainer Joe Lopez – who has been with ‘The Great’ since day one and still has him sweep the gym from time to time – thinks the world No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter is underrated .
He thinks his charge will beat Makhachev, for the same reason he thinks Volkanovsi would have beaten fellow Dagestan superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“A lot of people don’t understand how strong Alex is,” Lopez says. “He is very difficult to hold back.
He thinks his charge will beat Makhachev (pictured), for the same reason he thinks Volkanovsi would have beaten fellow Dagestan superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov
Lopez thinks the Aussie’s strength would be key to beating Nurmagomedov (pictured)
‘Islam will probably take Alex down, but will they be able to hold him back? He will be discouraged when Alex continues to get up. It will do him good mentally.
“I think Alex is probably a better wrestler. If he is knocked down, he will rise again.
Lopez says people overlook the featherweight champion’s wrestling skills, and UFC icon Conor McGregor should also be careful if they cross paths.
“Conor is a great striker and a great athlete, but he’s been out of the game for a while and I think the hunger isn’t there like it used to be.”
“He’s never done well against wrestler-grapplers – and people think Alex is just a striker, but originally he was a grappler.
Lopez says people overlook the featherweight champion’s wrestling skills, and UFC icon Conor McGregor (pictured) should also be careful if they cross paths
Volkanovski pictured playing rugby league for the Warilla Gorillas where his weight became as heavy as 97kg
“Alex always wants to improve and he always tries something new.”
Lopez, who has been training fighters for more than 20 years, fondly remembers the day Volkanovski walked into the Freestyle Fighting Gym in Windang on the New South Wales south coast.
He also vividly remembers the moment he realized that the future champion was not built like everyone else.
“It was his first fight,” Lopez recalled. “He fought against a heavyweight who had had a few fights. I didn’t want him to spare the guy right away – but the other guy’s trainer threw them together.
“In the first round, Alex submitted this heavyweight three times. After the fight was over, I asked him if he was interested in a real fight.
Volkanovski’s experience training with bigger opponents in the gym – and his athletic training as a sideline to rugby league where he weighed up to 97kg while playing for the Warilla Gorillas – is another. why Lopez thinks Alex is going to beat Makhachev.
‘Max [Holloway] was much bigger. Islam will probably be a bit heavier. We could reach the weight of Islam, but we want to keep mobility. The lighter you are, the faster you will be. We will still gain a few pounds.
Volkanovski has also signed one of the best grappling talents in the world, Craig Jones, to help him prepare for UFC 284, and Lopez believes that will be a huge plus for the Aussie.
“Alex has experimented and fought at higher weights. I feel like it performs better a bit lighter as it is now.
Volkanovski has also recruited one of the best wrestling talents in the world, Craig Jones, to help him prepare for UFC 284, and Lopez believes that will be a huge plus for the Aussie.
He proved very difficult to submit in the Octagon – with his most ominous moment coming against Brian Ortega at UFC 266.
He proved very difficult to submit in the Octagon – with his most ominous moment against Brian Ortega at UFC 266 (pictured)
The champion survived a deep guillotine choke which Lopez said was the only time he really worried about his fighter.
“I didn’t want to lose hope. I know Volk’s tenacity to get through things. The only time I worried was when he stopped moving,” Lopez recalled.
“I thought he was out. He had moved and then he stopped. I thought he was out. It’s the only time I felt like that.
“I don’t normally panic or stress. I can’t let emotion get in the way of what’s in front of me.
Lopez knows Volkanovski will have huge support this weekend and says half of Wollongong flew to Perth to support them
Lopez knows Volkanovski will have huge support this weekend and says half of Wollongong flew to Perth to support them.
Even some tradesmen who work on his house said they would not work that day because they would be traveling west.
“Everyone I talk to is flying out to Perth,” laughed Lopez.
‘Wollongong – all of Illawarra will explode. Ads will be full. Every house will be crowded sitting around the TV. It’s going to be amazing. We love the support.