Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has apologized to Islam Makhachev for saying before the Russian’s rematch with Alexander Volkanovski that his compatriot won the first fight and predicting his victory in the second fight.
“I want to apologize for underestimating Makhachev’s win in the first fight against Volk,” the Australian said in an interview with the MMAArcade podcast. “It wasn’t what I wanted to do, even though it sounded that way. I apologize, not so much to the fans, but to Islam, as I don’t want him to take my words that way. I was biased, without wanting to be so”
“I give Makhachev credit for not only fighting a guy who gave him a lot of trouble in his first fight, but also adapting to the change of opponent in the best way possible. What he did that night was incredible.”
In February of this year, Islam Makhachev made the first defense of his UFC lightweight title, defeating Alexander Volkanovski by unanimous decision over five rounds, and two weeks ago, the Russian put the finishing touches on the Australian by knocking him out in the first round.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33061-robert-uittaker-prines-izvineniya-islamu-makhachevu.html?rand=19907
