Javier Mendez believes that Islam Makhachev’s knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 left no room for doubt.
After a grueling five-round battle at UFC 284, Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) delivered a first-round head kick knockout to stop Volkanovski in their title-fight rematch last Saturday at Etihad Arena, as reported by MMA Junkie.
In an interview with Submission Radio, Mendez discussed their first fight, stating, “I wanted it to be clear and definitive. You know, hey, it’s over, move on, that’s it. I wanted that for that reason for me personally, and obviously for Islam – but me, too. I wanted to say, ‘Hey, we won that fight’ – like I always said, turn off the music on the first fight and then look at it objectively and see who landed the better strikes, see who had more control. But it was a great fight.”
Despite Volkanovski stepping in on short notice to replace Charles Oliveira, Mendez believes that Makhachev’s early finish of Volkanovski has settled the score.
Mendez expressed his relief that the fight didn’t go beyond one round, stating, “You can’t say anything from this – nothing at all. It’s just: Hey, question solved. Move on. Let them both move on to the next chapter in their great fighting careers and create the legacies that both of them have.”
Mendez also mentioned UFC CEO Dana White’s interest in booking Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2, but Makhachev doesn’t seem interested due to his dominant win over Oliveira at UFC 280. Mendez believes that Oliveira may have missed his opportunity.
Regarding Oliveira’s injury, Mendez said, “I don’t know how he got that cut, but I would hope to think that he was probably wearing headgear. I make my guys wear headgear for that very reason. You may not be going hard, but anything accidental, a head-to-head collision can easily cause cuts like that.”
For more information about the event, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.
This story originally appeared on MMA Junkie.
Sarah Foster is your guide to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. With a deep understanding of MMA’s intricacies and a passion for the sport, she offers comprehensive coverage of MMA events, fighter profiles, and in-depth analysis of fights. Sarah’s commitment to the octagon ensures that readers stay engaged with the latest developments in the MMA world.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72931262/usa_today_21973134.0.jpg "Stay Updated on Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Portal Movements for 2023-2024 Season")
