Alex Volkanovski is excited by the prospect of being an underdog when he takes on new lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
The featherweight champion accepted Makhachev's challenge of a fight at UFC 284 in Perth, entering the cage after the Dagestani fighter's second-round submission victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
Volkanovski is currently the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC and would be attempting to become just the fifth simultaneous double champion in the company's history.
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Speaking to reporters after Makhachev's victory, Volkanovski said he expected that result but took some confidence from how it played out.
"I was leaning towards Islam. I thought maybe he'd get it, three or four rounds, maybe get a submission," Volkanovski said.
"He was landing on the feet which sort of surprised me a little bit.
"I thought Islam would be able to control him a little bit more, I thought he'd be a lot stronger than Charles.
"Charles was still able to get up and throw submissions and he wasn't able to control him as well as I thought he could and that just makes me more confident because I'm very, very hard, not only to take down, but to hold down.
"Getting me down is going to be a problem and if you do, I'm bouncing right back up."
Volkanovski has won 12 fights in a row since entering the UFC, including three title fight victories over Max Holloway.
The 34-year-old will be giving away several inches in height to Makhachev but he believes he possesses the skillset to overcome any physical disadvantages.
"You ain't going to land on me like that because I don't just stand in front of you, I don't just come in straight at you," Volkanovski said.
"I've got a lot of good footwork, I'm very unpredictable, they never know what's happening in front of them and while they're trying to adjust, I'm making them pay.
"People are gonna say size this, size that but trust me, anyone that trains with me knows that strength is never a problem for me.
"Everyone thinks I'm short and then I'm punching them in the face and their face changes real quick when I'm in front of them.
"It's definitely a challenge, I'm not going to sit here and say it's not a challenge but is it a challenge I can overcome and get through? 100 per cent, I guarantee you I can."
Should the fight get made as expected, Volkanovski will be headlining the UFC's first visit to Australia since 2019.
The New South Welshman hasn't fought on home soil since becoming the champ and he says ready to embrace being the underdog again.
"I'm looking forward to people thinking, 'He's not going to be able to handle the power, he's going to get taken down, he's not going to be able to get back up,'" Volkanovski said.
"I can't wait to prove people wrong as each second goes by.
"If people are going to doubt me again, that's beautiful."
In Makhachev, Volkanovski has a formidable opponent.
The 31-year-old improved his winning streak to 11 when he put an end of Oliveira's own run of 11 straight victories.
Asked about his callout of Volkanovski, Makhachev said he wants to be the number one fighter on the planet.
"I have a new target. I have to be pound-for-pound number one, that's why I have to go to Australia and beat this guy," Makhachev told reporters.
"Volkanovski's tough. He has good skills, good striking game but he is small for this division, I think.
"If he wants to jump to 155lb, let's do this, but this weight class is not his level."
