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Top featherweight contender, Alexander Volkanovski, is feeling pretty confident ahead of his Max Holloway title fight, which takes place at the upcoming UFC 245 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat., Dec. 14, 2019 live on ESPN+ from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Probably because “Blessed” won’t be much of a problem for “The Great” challenger. Sure, Holloway has won 14 straight fights in the 145-pound division with 10 brutal finishes, but he’s never faced a fighter with skills like Volkanovski.
“I know this might sound disrespectful, it’s not. I don’t think he gives me crazy problems that I have to worry about,” Volkanovski told Submission Radio. “He’s still… just purely the fact that he is very good, I give him that. He is very technical and there are things I need to worry about, but when it comes to power, knockout power – obviously his cardio, you know, the cardio’s a big factor for most people in fights, but for me it’s nothing that I need to worry about.”
I would hate to see what Volkanovski considers disrespectful.
“I think a couple of rounds in he’s gonna know ‘oh shit, I got some work to do,’ but that’s if I don’t finish him early,” Volkanovski said. “Again, I don’t want to be acting like (I’m cocky). He’s got a good chin, I’ll give him that, but mate, if I’m on top of you and punching your head through the canvas, there’s only so much the ref can take. So, it doesn’t matter how good your chin is, the ref don’t want to see too much of that. Whether it’s a submission, whether it’s ground and pound or whenever I do, knock him out on the feet, it’s just, I believe I’m gonna be too powerful. And again, I think I’m gonna let the hands go this time.”
To his credit, the 20-1 Volkanovski is undefeated over the last six years and holds victories over former featherweight champion Jose Aldo, as well as two-time title contender Chad Mendes, just name a few. “The Great” has also registered 14 finishes in his 20 wins.
Will it be enough to capture the 145-pound crown?