Islam Makhachev is not concerned by Khabib Nurmagomedov's absence from his corner at UFC 284 this Saturday night. 

His fellow Dagestani is a coach, mentor and friend but announced last month that he is stepping back from MMA to spend more time with his family. 

Makhachev, 31, will not be able to call on Khabib for advice in person for his clash with Alexander Volkanovski, but he revealed the former champion has 'given him the plan'. 

He told Fox Sports Australia: 'I understand him, because he was retired, but he still traveled a lot with the whole team.

'And when somebody has a fight, he goes to the training camp, went to the other things. 

'And when you retire, you want to spend time with your family. For example, 2022 he spent just two months at home with his family, but all the other time he traveled a lot. That's why he wants to spend more time with his family.

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

Makhachev enters the match-up against the pound-for-pound No 1 looking to take his spot in the position every fighter craves. 

And he will have the significant size advantage too, with Volkanovski moving up to lightweight from his natural featherweight division. 

Despite the physical differential, much intrigue surrounds the fight, given the similar records and cross-division nature of it. 

Volkanovski is supremely confident and not interested in hearing excuses about Khabib not being there to support Makhachev. 

He told the MMA Hour: 'I guess I was [surprised] at the start, but it doesn't matter — Islam is still going to turn up. 

'I know people push narratives and all that type of stuff. At the end of the day, Islam is a great fighter. He's the one who's going in there and doing his work, and Khabib will tell you that himself. So again, if my hand gets raised, don't be [complaining]. 

'These are excuses. He's fought plenty of times with Khabib not in his corner.

'He's done it before and he's a great fighter. He's going to turn up and show up in the octagon anyway, even if Khabib is there or not. 

'So I'm preparing for the same Islam that I've seen, and again, if things go how I plan on them going, don't start changing narratives and start using all these excuses, because it's the guy in front of him that's the problem.'