All articles tagged with #alexander volkanovski
UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar says Alexander Volkanovski is defying age at 37 and should consider retiring as the featherweight champion to protect his health and legacy, even as he remains the sport’s top talent after reclaiming and defending the title, while acknowledging the ongoing GOAT debate and possible future tests against younger contenders like Evloev and Murphy.
Volkanovski revealed Mauricio Ruffy battled influenza at the start of fight week and still fought through fevers and limited movement to KO Rafael Fiziev in the second round at UFC 325, keeping his lightweight ranking intact and potentially setting up a top-8 matchup next (with Gamrot among the suggested options).
Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes in a five‑round rematch at UFC 325 to defend the featherweight title. Lopes acknowledged mistakes but offered no excuses, praising Volkanovski and signaling possible future moves, with discussions hinted at potential opponents like Jean Silva or Yair Rodriguez.
Diego Lopes says his UFC 314 loss to Alexander Volkanovski stemmed from a mental lapse where he over-pressured to win and didn’t enjoy the moment, allowing Volkanovski’s game plan to stay one step ahead. He seeks redemption in a UFC 325 rematch in Sydney, is confident he’ll KO Volkanovski, and has even apologized to Australian fans.
Alexander Volkanovski is considering multiple options for his next UFC featherweight title defense, with Aljamain Sterling expressing his desire for a shot at the title and challenging the current contenders, despite not being the immediate next in line.
Alexander Volkanovski is pleased with Lerone Murphy's impressive knockout win at UFC 319, considering him a top contender for his next title shot, despite earlier efforts to fight Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski praises Murphy's performance and sees him as a logical challenger for the featherweight belt.
Alexander Volkanovski has announced Lerone Murphy as his next opponent, with a potential fight scheduled for December, following Murphy's impressive first-round knockout at UFC 319, which has garnered praise from commentators and suggests Murphy is a rising contender in the featherweight division.
Alexander Volkanovski criticizes Ilia Topuria for vacating the featherweight title after one defense to pursue success in lightweight, arguing it diminishes his chances of being considered a featherweight GOAT and emphasizing the importance of title defenses for legacy. Volkanovski also notes Topuria's commitment to stay at lightweight for now, citing a promise made to the UFC.
Alexander Volkanovski is not interested in a rematch with Yair Rodriguez, as many believe it wouldn't be a compelling fight, and suggests Rodriguez should face Diego Lopes instead. Former UFC champion Robert Whittaker agrees, emphasizing that the rematch isn't desired by fans and that Rodriguez has work to do before a title shot.
Alexander Volkanovski argues that Jon Jones should fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to solidify his status as a "proper double champ" in the UFC. While Jones is set to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic, he has dismissed the need to unify the titles with Aspinall. Volkanovski believes that fighting Aspinall, who he sees as a significant threat, would enhance Jones' legacy more than a potential fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, despite Pereira being a bigger draw.
Former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski predicts Islam Makhachev will successfully defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, citing Makhachev's skill and safety as key factors. Volkanovski notes Poirier's southpaw stance as a potential advantage but ultimately believes Makhachev will win by submission.
Brian Ortega overcame a freak ankle injury during his UFC Mexico City fight against Yair Rodriguez to secure a third-round submission win. He expressed respect for former champion Alexander Volkanovski and called out the disrespectful behavior towards him, while also expressing willingness to challenge new champion Ilia Topuria in Spain if Volkanovski needs time off. Ortega emphasized his resilience and willingness to face tough opponents, showcasing his determination to compete at the highest level in the featherweight division.
Alexander Volkanovski suffered a devastating loss at UFC 298, marking his first defeat at 145 pounds and dropping his record to 1-3 in his last four fights. Despite his dominant reign and five title defenses, Volkanovski's immediate rematch plea may not materialize, as his opponent, Topuria, is likely to defend or lose the title before Volkanovski returns. The former champion should take time off to regroup before his next fight.
After his loss to Ilia Topuria, Alexander Volkanovski is determined to secure a rematch, acknowledging his defeat but expressing confidence in his ability to reclaim the featherweight title. Despite a recent rough patch, Volkanovski is focused on regaining the belt and plans to take time to rest and prepare for the anticipated rematch later in the year.
Ilia Topuria knocked out Alexander Volkanovski to become the new Featherweight champion at UFC 298, and potential matchups include Topuria facing Movsar Evloev, Robert Whittaker against Khamzat Chimaev, Merab Dvalishvili against the O’Malley vs. Vera winner, Ian Machado Garry against Sean Brady, and Anthony Hernandez against Ikram Aliskerov.