Craig Jones is confident that Alexander Volkanovski will approach his rematch with Islam Makhachev with confidence in his grappling skills, debunking the myth of Dagestani sambo fighters, despite having limited time to prepare for the fight.
In the upcoming lightweight title rematch at UFC 294, a battle of coaching styles takes center stage as Craig Jones faces off against Khabib Nurmagomedov, while Alexander Volkanovski looks to avenge his previous loss against Islam Makhachev. Jones relies on his jiu-jitsu expertise, which has proven instrumental in his success in grappling competitions, whereas Nurmagomedov draws strength from his Sambo background, a renowned Soviet martial art. The reputations of these coaches are on the line as their protégés step into the octagon on Saturday.
Jones enjoys taunting his Russian rivals, serving up a direct jibe by dismissing Sambo as “100 percent fake.” He argues that the techniques of Sambo were stolen from judo, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling by Russian martial artists Spiridonov and Oshchepkov, rebranded under a new name. Despite its effectiveness in mixed martial arts, Jones asserts that there is no comparison between the skills of a jiu-jitsu expert and a Sambo practitioner on the mat. He takes particular offense to Nurmagomedov’s insinuation that Sambo is superior, responding with a firm belief that there are no elite Sambo grapplers in the world.
While Saturday’s rematch is not solely a grappling match, Jones remains confident that Volkanovski has debunked the myth surrounding Dagestani Sambo fighters in their first encounter earlier this year. As the fight progressed, Volkanovski shouted from the corner, expressing his increasingly confident belief that Nurmagomedov’s strength and grappling abilities were not as impressive as commonly perceived. Jones eagerly awaits the first two rounds of the rematch, expecting Volkanovski to approach Makhachev with the unwavering confidence that he can overcome his opponent.
Although Volkanovski had less than two weeks to prepare for the rematch due to stepping in for the injured Oliveira, Jones believes that the short notice might actually work in his favor. Having avoided an exhaustive training camp, both Jones and Volkanovski see this as an opportunity to capitalize on fresh physical conditions. Jones plans to continue his usual antics, provoking his Russian adversaries from the sidelines without facing any physical harm. For Jones, this will be as close as he gets to engaging in a fight, as he prefers to maintain a safe distance.