Reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has been in the talks about making a move to Lightweight in the near future and his divisional debut will likely happen against either Charles Oliveira or Islam Makhachev, and according to his coach Eugene Bareman, its Oliveira who will give Volkanovski a harder fight.
Oliveira has a more well-rounded skillset: Alexander Volkanovski’s coach
Volkanovski has around a month before his much awaited trilogy fight against longtime rival Max Holloway at UFC 276 and if he wins, the Aussie fighter has said that he will jump to 155 with his aim on the lightweight title to become double champion. “The Great” will likely make his Lightweight debut against the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev, two of the best 155-pounders in the world.
There are mixed opinions on who is the better fighter between Oliveira and Makhachev. For some, the former Lightweight champ brings alot to the table, while others vouch for the Dagestani’s wrestling heritage. However, Eugene Bareman speaks for Oliveira, as in a recent conversation with Submission Radio, the coach said that the Brazilian has a “more well-rounded skillset” and will prove to be more difficult for Volkanovski, compared to Makhachev.
“Definitely Oliveira’s the more difficult match in my opinion. Again, it just depends. Oliveira has a more well-rounded skillset, so there’s more to deal with,” said Bareman, “I mean, Islam’s got good stand-up, but that just depends on who you are looking in, I guess. But yeah, I just think Oliveira would be a more well-rounded skill set for Volk to deal with.”
“Whereas Islam, perhaps we could narrow a couple of things down and concentrate on those few things. Which is easier said than done, because just like in much the fashion of Khabib, Islam excels. He may only do one or two aspects of the sport really, really well, but he does them at the highest level. So, that’s the difficulty,” the coach added. [H/T BJPenn.com]
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