ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI completed a sensational body transformation to make weight for his short-notice rematch with lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.
The featherweight king was drafted in on 11 days' notice to replace the injured Charles Oliveira, who suffered a gruesome cut above his right eyebrow, and save UFC 294's main event.
Volkanovski weighed a whopping 181lbs when he got to the call to replace Oliveira – a staggering 26lbs over the lightweight title fight weight limit.
MMA fans around the world were concerned about the gruelling short-notice cut the Aussie would have to undergo in order to finalise the eagerly-anticipated rematch.
But 'The Great' had no problems dropping the weight, tipping the scales at 154.4lbs in Abu Dhabi early this morning.
The 35-year-old's slightly protruding belly has been replaced by lean and mean abs, although the lack of water in his body at the weigh-ins meant they weren't as full.
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UFC fans were quick to comment on Volk's incredible, but ultimately successful, short-notice weight cut.
One wrote on X: "Light work, LFG [let's f***ing go]."
Another said: "This man was 182 lbs 12 days ago.
"F***ing amazing what these guys put themselves through to make weight."
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And another said: "Volk cut 26lbs in 12 days. Impressive!"
One remarked: "The guy is elite, he's special forces."
Another chimed in: "If he wins tomorrow, they should make a movie about this guy."
As he made his way off the scales, Volkanovski said: "26.5lbs in 11 days, too easy. Let's go."
Volkanovski came up short in his bid to become a double champion against Makhachev back in February, suffering a unanimous decision defeat to the Russian.
And he jumped at the opportunity to exact revenge when the UFC matchmakers put the emergency call into him.
He said: "It's high risk but high reward, that's how I look at it.
"That's why I've been busting myself for the past 12 years so I can be that guy who can do things like this.
"Some history-making kind of stuff and have a legacy that people will be talking about for a very long time."
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