The former champion is back to restore himself in Miami at the top of the division on April 12.
Alexander Volkanovski is convinced that UFC 314 ends with defeating Diego Lopes to reclaim the featherweight title to start a second championship run.
During his title government, 'The Great' was an incredibly active and dominant champion and Volkanovski already have plans to do the same.
However, after losing his title to Ilia Topuria last year together with two defeats for lightweight Islam Makhachev champion, the 36-year-old is 1-3 in his last four.
That will undoubtedly lead to some self -doubt, especially if Volkanovski comes to Lopes against an incredibly confident and dangerous opponent.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Alexander Volkanovski treats doubts before UFC 314 and how he passed it
When Ilia Topuria left the featherweight title to enter a weight class, Alexander Volkanovski would always be involved in the fight for the empty belt after their Rematch did not come out.
The only man who beats 'The Great' at 145 pounds now has left the weight class, but the recent form of the former champion leaves him with a few questions to answer.
In the Kaseya Center he will want to prove that he can still get it together with the best boys at Featherweight by beating Diego Lopes, but Volkanovski recently admitted that he has not been immune to self -doubt lately.
In an interview with ESPN, he spoke about what it was like to work up for a return after more than a year after losing back-to-back knockout.
“You are going to ask yourself if: 'Okay, this is unknown territory, an unknown feeling. Have you lost it? What's going on? You don't want it anymore. I had something like: 'No, not really. I remember that I have accepted that I have the break, but have you accepted that you are ready? “No, I don't have that. I'm coming back. I will turn the switch, but do you want to turn the switch? 'You know, you ask yourself these questions, but I always answer:' Relax, when the time comes, you will turn the switch. Don't worry. ” But I don't think you know if you decide to do that. “
Volkanovski then spoke about how he conquered these questions by answering them in the gym for himself.
The mentality of the former champion was one of his biggest strengths during his title government, but he comes to UFC 314 in very different circumstances.
“There were questions: can I turn the switch? Will I be the same man if I turn that switch around? “Said Volkanovski. “We found out early because we started camping beautiful and early that we would do. We are now kicking in the gym. The weight is ahead of schedule and we still have enough time. “
Can Alexander Volkanovski reverse the years at UFC 314?
While Alexander Volkanovski has suffered successive knock -out losses, he took Islam Makhachev in the short term and then fought against Ilia Topuria only four months later.
The point is that for everything we know, the former champion is still the same destructive power that the featherweight division has been ruling for many years, but his confidence may have taken a hit.
Diego Lopes will certainly put that to the test, because if there is one thing that the Brazilian has plenty, it is himself faith.
The statistics alone do not paint a nice picture for the Aussie, but if there is one man who can prove that wrong and win the gold, the old man is people.
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