Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has lashed out at the UFC and accused boss Dana White of putting his huge fight with Alexander Volkanovski on the back burner.

The bout at UFC 284 in Perth next Sunday will determine the pound-for-pound king of the octagon, with the Australian trying to join an extremely select group of fighters who've won belts at two weights.

Fight fans across the world will be glued to their screens for the bout and the venue has been sold out, but Makhachev is seriously disappointed with the build-up to what he sees as one of the biggest clashes of his career.

'I see that it is not such a big promotion,' he told R-Sport Russia.

'Dana white himself has some problems. He does not pay much attention to this fight. In terms of pay per view, yes, more could have been done.

'I only saw Volkanovski once, in Sydney. A tour could be organised around the world, a conference could be held in America.'

Fight fans were quick to agree with him online.

'If it's not Usman, Jones, or Mcgregor, Dana cares nothing about you,' one commenter wrote.

'@danawhite is too busy promoting slap contests,' said another, referring to the UFC boss's new and widely criticised Power Slap League. 

'They've used this tactic many times before. @ufc @danawhite won't promote the fight at all, then use the low PPV sales as leverage to not pay them as much,' wrote a third fight fan.

Makhachev and Volkanovski may have only met once on the promo trail, but they did clash in an interview with former light heavyweight and heavyweight UFC champ Daniel Cormier, with the full footage due to be released on Monday.

The Australian - who experts have tipped will struggle with his opponent's excellent takedown and grappling skills - laughed off the Russian's claim that his country doesn't produce wrestlers.

'Australia don't have wrestling. That's why I don't care [about Volkanovski's ground game],' he said while Cormier burst into laughter.

'Alex, if you're a good wrestler and you have good defence you can go, brother, [to] the Olympic Games from Australia.'

'Mate, I was actually national champion,' Volkanovski replied, referring to the title he won in Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of 12 after training in the sport from an early age.

'You have to compete in Olympic Games,' Makhachev said.

'As you said, this is the MMA, so you've just got to remember we all know your hope is to try and grab a hold of me and hold me down,' Volkanovski shot back.

'But if that doesn't work in your favour, we know how uncomfortable you're going to be.'

The 31-year-old this week said he was unconcerned by the fact octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov won't be in the corner for the fight because his fellow Dagestani had already given him a plan to beat the Aussie.

'I fought a couple of times without him in my corner,' Makhachev said. 

'He gave me good support for this fight. We talked about this fight. He gave me the plan. I have to fight, that's why we will see.'