ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI completed a sensational body transformation to make weight for his short-notice rematch with lightweight champ Islam Makhachev.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/p>\n

Volkanovski weighed a whopping 181lbs when he got to the call to replace Oliveira – a staggering 26lbs over the lightweight title fight weight limit.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But 'The Great' had no problems dropping the weight, tipping the scales at 154.4lbs in Abu Dhabi early this morning<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old's slightly protruding belly has been replaced by lean and mean abs, although the lack of water in his body at the weigh-ins meant they weren't as full.<\/p>\n

READ MORE IN MMA<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>DHABI DUST-UP <\/span><\/p>\n

UFC 294 UK start time, card and live stream info as Volk faces Makhachev<\/h3>\n

<\/picture>BIG BONUS <\/span><\/p>\n

Horse racing free bets: Get \u00a320 bonus with Coral when you sign up and stake \u00a35<\/h3>\n

UFC fans were quick to comment on Volk's incredible, but ultimately successful, short-notice weight cut.<\/p>\n

One wrote on X: "Light work, LFG [let's f***ing go]."<\/p>\n

Another said: "This man was 182 lbs 12 days ago.<\/p>\n

"F***ing amazing what these guys put themselves through to make weight."<\/p>\n

Most read in MMA<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>BISH BASH BOSH <\/span><\/p>\n

I”m undefeated in the UFC and should be ranked, says Brit Javid Basharat<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>DHABI DUST-UP <\/span><\/p>\n

UFC 294 UK start time, card and live stream info as Volk faces Makhachev<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>ULTIMATE CARD <\/span><\/p>\n

How incredible UFC 300 card could look with McGregor and Rousey returning<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>KAM’T BE SERIOUS <\/span><\/p>\n

UFC fans fear Usman has crocked himself days before huge Chimaev fight<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And another said: "Volk cut 26lbs in 12 days. Impressive!"<\/p>\n

One remarked: "The guy is elite, he's special forces."<\/p>\n

Another chimed in: "If he wins tomorrow, they should make a movie about this guy."<\/p>\n

As he made his way off the scales, Volkanovski said: "26.5lbs in 11 days, too easy. Let's go."<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And he jumped at the opportunity to exact revenge when the UFC<\/span> matchmakers put the emergency call into him.<\/p>\n

He said: "It's high risk but high reward, that's how I look at it.<\/p>\n

"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.<\/p>\n

"Some history-making kind of stuff and have a legacy that people will be talking about for a very long time."<\/p>\n

\nSource: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI completed a sensational body transformation to make weight for his short-notice rematch with lightweight champ Islam Makhachev. The<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100125,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n