When Islam Makhachev stepped into the Octagon to face Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, fight fans knew they were in for a historic showdown . Little did they anticipate the storm of controversies that would follow this highly anticipated champion vs. champion clash. Before this super fight, Alexander Volkanovski stood at #1 in the pound for pound ranking, while Makhachev stood at a close #2 place. The main goal for the Russian fighter was to grab Volkanovski’s PFP crown.
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Even after claiming a unanimous decision win, Islam Makhachev did not accomplish his goal. Now, months after the fight, Makhachev‘s coach, Javier Mendez dropped a bombshell revelation.
Coach Javier Mendez blasts UFC official pound for pound scoring
After defeating the reigning PFP champion, Volkanovski, fans expected Makhachev to claim the coveted top spot. However, that hasn’t happened and it seems there is more than what meets the eye.
Mendez said, “Islam Makhachev is, I feel pound for pound #1. I dont think he is #2, I think he is #1. All of a sudden, you lost the fight and you still keep the (PFP #1) title because he did great in the last rounds? I think the voting was bullsh*t. I don’t get this ranking system.”
Moreover, he did not shy away from expressing his frustration with the rankings.
Mendez cries foul about Alexander Volkanovski’s weight against Islam Makhachev
Alexander Volkanovski was an underdog coming into the fight against Makhachev. Part of the reason behind this was that Volkanovski was coming from a lower weight division. Moreover, MMA fans know Makhachev as someone who cuts a lot of weight to make 155 pounds. So everyone expected the weight advantage to be in the favor of the lightweight champ.
However, coach Javier Mendez made a statement in his recent podcast that left all MMA fans surprised.
“The reason why I say (Makhachev should be PFP #1) is that the fight was at 155 pounds, Volkanovski came in 2 pounds heavier than Islam on fight night”, Mendez said.
None of the fans expected the featherweight champ to be the heavier opponent in the UFC 284 main event, simply because he belonged to a lighter weight class. Does this revelation change how you see Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski? Do let us know in the comments below.
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