Alexander Volkanovski's experience as a rugby league player will give him a huge boost when he faces Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title, Michael Chandler has claimed.

The Australian is bidding to add to his UFC featherweight title when he takes on the all-conquering Dagestani in Perth next year, with Makhachev out-grappling Charles Oliveira - the king of submissions - to win the 155-pound belt this year.

Makhachev has the size advantage for their match up in February, with many fans and pundits fearing that Volkanovski will have no answer for the 31-year-old's exceptional wrestling.

But lightweight star Chandler believes that Volkanovski holds a secret weapon. Before his MMA career, the featherweight champion was a semi-professional rugby league player weighing over 200 pounds, and Chandler expects the Australian to naturally be very strong.   

'I'm a huge Volkanovski fan,' Chandler told MMA Junkie. 'He's very, very good. Is he gonna be smaller than Islam? Yes, very much so. I do think Volkanovski is gonna do better than we all think he does. 

'He used to weigh 210 pounds, 220 pounds, whatever he was when he was playing rugby. Your body remembers that.

'You carry that strength with you. You carry that power with you. You carry just the hip strength of Islam not being able to take him down. 

'The one thing I see is that Volkanovski is a little bit shorter, so that leverage game of if Islam gets up underneath him, puts his head underneath his chin, he's gonna be able to lift him off the ground pretty easy.'

Should Volkanovski contain Makhachev's wrestling, Chandler expects it to be a fruitful night for the 34-year-old.  

'In the striking department, Volkanovski is better than him,' Chandler added. 'I think in the speed and the power department, Volkanovski is better than him. 

'So, anything outside of Islam going out there and taking him down in the first minute of each round and holding him down, I think Volkanovski might actually squeak out a decision. Most likely not a finish but a decision.' 

Volkanovski has been preparing for Makhachev ever since he acted as back up for the lightweight title fight between the Dagestani and Oliveira in Abu Dhabi, and he took to Instagram this week to send his rival a hilarious message.

Zooming in on his left kneecap, Volkanovski wrote: 'Yo Islam, your belt's got my name on it and my knee's got your face on it!'