Two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, an Australian native, will have a hometown crowd on his side this weekend when he rematches Diego Lopes in Sydney. Depending on the fighter, competing at home can be distracting. For Volkanovski, it’s motivation and he believes an advantage.
“I want to have a big moment here. That’s what I love about being here in Sydney because when I’m traveling away, everyone can’t be there live. They can’t be in the arena and feel the atmosphere. You know what I mean? You have that feeling, but I get to do that here,” continued the champion. “I want to go out there and look dominant and really give all my supporters, family and friends like give them that feeling like that moment that they’re going to remember forever.”
Having been in there with Lopes for 25 minutes before, Volkanovski knows what to expect on Saturday. He admitted that Lopes is dangerous but Volkanovski plans to take little damage in the fight.
“I’ve always said this, I’m only losing by getting, you know, someone landing, catching me. I truly do believe that, and he’s a guy that can do that,” Volkanovski said. “He’s a guy that can eat them. He can take some good punishment. He’ll eat one to give one. And I mean eat one to give one. So, they’re always dangerous. So yeah, you’ve got to respect that.
“There’s going to be a lot of opportunities for me to capitalize when he’s that aggressive. But at the same time, you’re always going to have the threat of him always looking for the KO. And event going to the ground, always looking for a submission. Hair Mary. That’s how he fights. That’s why he’s so dangerous, so the respect is always going to be there,” Volkanovski continued.
“I plan on taking minimal damage out there and then having a quick turnaround.”
