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Aussie UFC ace Alex Volkanovski says Sunday's clash with lightweight champion, Russian Islam Makhachev, is a chance to avenge a rare defeat.
Australian UFC champion Alex Volkanovski is already planning a trilogy fight after his chance to avenge his defeat to Islam Makhachev when they pair meet again in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
The pair first squared off in Perth in February with the Russian retaining his lightweight belt by unanimous decision, although Volkanovski finished with a flourish to win the final round.
The loss - just Volkanovski's second from 28 fights - was why he jumped at the chance for a rematch on Sunday morning (AEDT), with just 12 days' notice, after being called in as an injury replacement for challenger Charles Oliveira.
"This is why I really wanted to take this on," Volkanovski told MMA Junkie.
"He's talking about moving up (a division), I know he doesn't like the weight cut, so I'm thinking, 'What if I can't ever get this rematch?'.
"That's why I felt like this is opportunity that I needed to take just in case it doesn't happen. For my legacy, it needs to happen.
"I need this win back and I want to do it in wild fashion so there's no questions.
"And then if he chooses to stay around, we'll do the trilogy. I'm up for that as we've got that rivalry and it's a good story."
Already the featherweight champion, Volkanovski would join an elite four-man group to simultaneously hold two different UFC belts with a victory at UFC 294. That group includes Conor McGregor,
Volkanovski said he could see the pressure building on Makhachev, who has his belt and his reputation at stake given the Australian's very limited preparation.
"He knows I'm coming in on 12 days notice, he knows everyone will expect him to walk through me and he knows that it's not going to be that easy," said Volkanovski, who had elbow surgery after beating Yair Rodrigues in July.
"I guarantee you he's got a lot of pressure on him and he's struggling with all this. I can already see and feel that.
"I've still got a lot to lose, but there's no pressure on me."
Volknovski is expecting Makhachev to again use grappling to try to slow the fight, so the Australian wants to make an early statement.
He felt he showed the 31-year-old, whose record is 24-1 (4KO) too much respect in their first encounter.
"I could have backed myself a little bit earlier but at least I got to figure that out and this time, I can't afford to show him that respect," Volknovski said.
"I need to go out there and I need to go for the finish.
"I feel like I can go the five rounds anyway, but let's not even worry about that, let's go out there and really set a statement which is going to be massive for the legacy and that will get people talking. That's what I want."
