I love when people doubt me - Volkanovski

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski says he is glad people got to see him emotional following his last defeat, but emphasises his mental health is fine and he is ready to humble Ilia Topuria.

Australia's Volkanovski, 35, fought Islam Makhachev on 11 days' notice in October and said he was "struggling" before accepting the lightweight title fight.

He is set to defend his own title against Georgian-Spaniard Topuria at UFC 298 in California on Saturday.

"What's getting me excited is showing Ilia. I want him to understand and feel 'wow, he was levels ahead'," Volkanovski told BBC Sport.

"Believe it or not, I don't want a first-round finish. I want him to feel like he never stood a chance, and then I'll take him out."

Volkanovski will make the sixth defence of his title against 27-year-old Topuria after failing to capture Makhachev's lightweight belt for a second time.

He was visibly down in an emotionally charged post-fight news conference, sparking concern among his fans.

But he says a combination of factors had caused him to be "undisciplined" before the fight, including not being able to train following elbow surgery and missing out on sleep while looking after his newborn daughter.

"I'm in a much better position because a lot of people are in the same position and feel uneasy but probably don't even know why. I know why," Volkanovski said.

"A lot of other fighters suffer a lot more than what you saw in me - it was just the timing of it.

"But I'm glad people got to see that because it was more awareness for other people."

Topuria is unbeaten during his 14-fight career, finishing four of his six bouts in the UFC, and has displayed unwavering confidence in the build-up to the bout, even wearing a replica title this week.

Many pundits and fans are predicting a close contest and have questioned whether the Makhachev defeat signals the start of Volkanovski's decline, but he is using his doubters as inspiration.

"I love when people doubt me. I'm not the underdog but I feel like I've always had an underdog mentality," said Volkanovski.

"I don't think it's just the doubters; it is bouncing back from that fight and showing Ilia, 'Hey, I don't care about your last 14 fights - that don't work with me'."