“For Alex, is fighting against Islam a win-win? I don’t agree! If he loses again, the UFC will not hold a third fight. He's already conceded once. It was a close fight, many even thought Volkanovski won. If he loses, there won't be another chance. So this is his last chance. He accepted this fight, although he already has an opponent to defend his featherweight title,” Askren said in an interview with Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel.
The Makhachev-Volkanovski fight will headline UFC 294, which will take place on October 21 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In the first meeting of these fighters, which took place in February, the Dagestani won by unanimous decision.