“Speak Slow, Bro”: Islam Makhachev’s Language Barrier Left Alexander Volkanovski in Stitches
Islam Makhachev had Alexander Volkanovski kaughing even before their interview started as he pleaded the Aussie to talk slowly so he could understand him.
When two champions throw absolute hammers at each other for 25 minutes inside a cage, you don't usually expect them to be sharing a laugh on camera later. Current UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski aren't your typical rivals.
Their mutual respect is already well known, but Makhachev recently proved he can still catch the Aussie off guard with pure comedy, all thanks to a thick language barrier. Right before a joint feature for Main Event TV went live, Makhachev held things up to drop a hilarious piece of advice on his former opponent.
“Bro, I still don’t understand Australian English. That’s why, speak a little slow, bro,” Makhachev said with a grin.
The random confession caught Volkanovski completely unawares, sending him into absolute hysterics before they could even dive into fight talk. Makhachev has gotten pretty sharp with his English over the last few years, handling pressers and post-fight interviews like a pro. But rapid-fire Aussie slang? That's still a completely different language for the Dagestani champion.
Big-Time Rivalry turned Comedy Duo
What makes the clip so good is just how vast their shared history is. Makhachev first met Volkanovski at UFC 284 in Perth, squeezing out a gritty unanimous decision in an absolute classic. Then came the rematch at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, where Makhachev put a stamp on the saga with a picture-perfect head kick KO in the first round.
Statistically, these two are as elite as it gets in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Makhachev sits on a ridiculous 28-1 record, riding one of the best winning streaks the lightweight division has ever seen. On the flip side, Volkanovski boasts a 28-4 record with five featherweight title defenses to his name.
Despite two violent showdowns, the respect between Team Makhachev and the Aussie favorite keeps growing. Makhachev even joked about getting Volkanovski out to Dagestan for a training camp.
The Dagestani figured out how to solve the Volkanovski puzzle twice inside the Octagon, but translating down-under slang is clearly still a work in progress. Fans are going to keep loving every second of this unlikely bromance.
