Russian fighter Ivan Shtyrkov told that he expected compatriot Islam Makhachev to beat Australian Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294, but not in the first round.
On Saturday, Makhachev knocked out Volkanovski in the first round in the main bout of the Abu Dhabi tournament and defended his lightweight championship belt. Volkanovski entered the fight on short notice, replacing Brazilian Charles Oliveira.
– I thought Makhachev would win, but by knockout in the first round – no. You have to prepare yourself against an opponent like Makhachev. Wolf’s team said he trains constantly. It’s impossible to always be fit and ready for five rounds. Makhachev showed a brutal knockout,” Shtyrkov told .
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Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
