Volkanovski relishing underdog tag for historic Makhachev fight

At 5ft 6in, the 34-year-old is among the shorter fighters on the UFC roster, but size has never hindered the Australian – it has inspired him.

Volkanovski is the featherweight champion and the number one ranked pound-for-pound fighter and will look to make history on Saturday when he challenges Makhachev for the lightweight belt at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia.

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“I’ve always been undersized and always had people trying to push that narrative, but the amount of times I’ve embarrassed them,” Volkanovski tells BBC Sport.

“I love when people put me as the underdog and think I’m undersized. You want to say that stuff? Cool. Just remember when I win, give me my flowers, you should reward me well when I get that job done.

“I obviously [fight] for my family, my team and all that sort of stuff which is so much bigger, but I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t motivate me.”

Volkanovski described a “smirk” on 31-year-old Makhachev’s face when the pair met in Australia while promoting the fight last month.

“You can just see it, he’s just like ‘oh this guy’, as if it’s going to be a walk in the park.

“Whether he thinks that or that’s just his personality and he always has a smirk on his face, I could be wrong, but I sense that he is looking at this and maybe taking it lightly and if he does, it will not end well for him.”