Israel Adesanya visited Alexander Volkanovski prior to UFC 298.
The current featherweight champion, Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC), is set to defend his title against Ilia Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in the main event on February 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Adesanya, the former middleweight champion, traveled to Wollongong, Australia to train with Volkanovski at his gym, Freestyle MMA. The two have frequently trained together at City Kickboxing in the past, where Volkanovski also trains.
“I wanted to see him in his own environment, during the final stretch, to gauge his mindset and sharpness, and to draw inspiration from it,” Adesanya expressed on Volkanovski’s YouTube channel. “That’s why I made this trip.”
Volkanovski has never been defeated in the featherweight division. Although he suffered a knockout loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in October at UFC 294, Adesanya is confident that Volkanovski will prove any doubters wrong against the undefeated Topuria.
“Volkanovski is razor-sharp,” Adesanya commented. “I really appreciate what he said in one of his interviews. He said, ‘How quickly they forget,’ and I understand that sentiment. People forget quickly. But this is where we rise to the occasion. It’s time to remind them. He’s about to do just that in Anaheim.”
Adesanya is determined to make a comeback after losing his middleweight title in September at UFC 293. “The Stylebender” took a break but has hinted at his imminent return.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com