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Alexander Volkanovski plans to wait for title fight after UFC 308: ‘I’m sure I’ll be fine’

Alexander Volkanovski plans to wait for title fight after UFC 308: 'I'm sure I'll be fine' Amid links to a lightweight return off the back of his stunning featherweight title fight loss to the incumbent,…

Amid links to a lightweight return off the back of his stunning featherweight title fight loss to the incumbent, Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 earlier this year, former pound-for-pound number one, Alexander Volkanovski has revealed plans to now await the victor for the Georgian’s fight with former three-time foe, Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.

Volkanovski, a former undisputed featherweight champion and the current number one ranked divisional contender, has been out of action since he headlined UFC 298 back in February, suffering a second round knockout defeat to the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria in Anaheim, California.

The defeat came as New South Wales native, Volkanovski’s first at the featherweight limit — having also suffered a prior first round high-kick knockout defeat to current lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev back in October of last year at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Alexander Volkanovski plans to land featherweight title fight next

However, amid links to a potential move to the lightweight limit and title-eliminator fight against former 155lbs gold holder, Charles Oliveira, Volkanovski has now confirmed he plans to remain at featherweight, with the hope of landing himself an immediate title re-run in his return to the Octagon.

Ilia Topuria denies truning down rematch with Alexander Volkanovski in Australia the UFC never offered it — Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports

“Yeah, for sure (a featherweight title fight next), that’s exactly what’s happening,” Alexander Volkanovski told Sky Sports New Zealand during a recent interview. “I can wait or if I don’t want to wait I can do something else. Or just wait and the UFC has made it clear and obviously that’s probably what I’m gonna do.”

“I could’ve maybe done a lightweight fight, I think there’s a lot of exciting fights there, but the UFC aren’t big fans of floating [between divisions], they’d go, ‘Look, you wanna go to lightweight, you’re gonna have to stay there.’” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “And then I might lose that featherweight title shot. It’s only a couple of months (wait), I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Joe Rogan blown away by Ilia Topuria’s superb pad work: ‘F*cking phenomenal’

Ahead of his title fight return at UFC 308 at the end of the October, unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia…

Ahead of his title fight return at UFC 308 at the end of the October, unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria has received massive praise from veteran promotional color-commentator, Joe Rogan — who heaped praise on his striking and hand speed.

Topuria, the undisputed featherweight champion, who is currently in the midst of a stunning 15-fight unbeaten professional run, most recently crowned himself as the gold holder back in February in the main event of UFC 299, stopping Australian kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski with a stunning second round KO win.

Ilia Topuria receives mass praise from UFC caller, Joe Rogan

And now booked to take on symbolic BMF champion, Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi at UFC 308 in two months’ time, Topuria received massive praise for his striking work in some new training footage, by promotional caller, Rogan.

“Ilia Topuria is one of the absolute best fighters in the world,” Joe Rogan said on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. “The dude is just f*cking phenomenal. One of the things that is phenomenal about him is his technique. Watch him hit the punches. See how he’s moving his head when guy throws punches? Slipping just slightly.”

“The speed, man, the f*cking speed of that,” Joe Rogan explained. “Look at the hand speed. F*cking incredible. If you know how difficulty that is to do and do it that fast. I mean, these are like five, six punches a second and just phenomenal technique.”

Previewing his matchup with Hawaiian striker, Holloway later this year at UFC 308, Topuria claimed the matchup with the former featherweight gold holder was more than easy.

“If he’s (Max Holloway) going to bring the same energy he brings in the last 10 seconds of every round, when he doest his (point to ground), I’m going to knock him out in the first round,” Ilia Topuria told MMA Junkie. “Because in the moment he’s going to stop in the middle and start to exchange and punches with me. I recommend him to use a helmet, because he’s going to need.”

If he does it, even better for me,” Ilia Topuria explained. “Maybe I’m going to point to the ground. Maybe I will do all that because I’m going to feel so comfortable in that fight because I’m telling you, ever time I see him fight I’m like, ‘Everyone is going to be surprised when I knock him out,’ because I see him as luke such an easy matchup for me. If he thinks that I’m not right, prove me wrong. We’re going to be in the same Octagon, October 26. prove me wrong.”

Joe Rogan blown away by Ilia Topuria’s superb pad work: ‘F*cking phenomenal’

Ahead of his title fight return at UFC 308 at the end of the October, unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia…

Ilia Topuria receives mass praise from UFC caller, Joe Rogan

Previewing his matchup with Hawaiian striker, Holloway later this year at UFC 308, Topuria claimed the matchup with the former featherweight gold holder was more than easy.

Joe Rogan blown away by Ilia Topuria’s superb pad work: ‘F*cking phenomenal’

Ahead of his title fight return at UFC 308 at the end of the October, unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia…

Ilia Topuria receives mass praise from UFC caller, Joe Rogan

Previewing his matchup with Hawaiian striker, Holloway later this year at UFC 308, Topuria claimed the matchup with the former featherweight gold holder was more than easy.

Former Champ Analyzes Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight At UFC 308: ‘What Happens If You Could Set A Little Fatigue In Him?’

Aljamain Sterling recently offered his insights on the upcoming featherweight title clash between reigning champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308. “El Matador” is gearing up to put his title on the line for the first time against Holloway in the headlining bout of an eagerly awaited pay-per-view event set to take place […]

Continue Reading Former Champ Analyzes Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight At UFC 308: ‘What Happens If You Could Set A Little Fatigue In Him?’ at MMA News.

Aljamain Sterling recently offered his insights on the upcoming featherweight title clash between reigning champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308.

“El Matador” is gearing up to put his title on the line for the first time against Holloway in the headlining bout of an eagerly awaited pay-per-view event set to take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on October 26.

Topuria claimed the 145-pound championship with a stunning knockout of former titleholder Alexander Volkanovski in the second round at UFC 298 in February. He has secured five victories in under two rounds, dismantling formidable foes such as Bryce Mitchell, Jai Herbert, and Josh Emmett.

On the other hand, “Blessed” is preparing for his third bid to recapture the featherweight crown, which slipped from his grasp against Volkanovski back in December 2019. Despite two valiant rematch efforts that fell short, Holloway has roared back with a trio of victories. He is coming off a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje in a lightweight showdown at UFC 300 in April, a victory that also crowned him the BMF champion.

Topuria has built his reputation on a combination of aggressive striking and powerful grappling. Meanwhile, Holloway’s extensive experience and resilience make him a daunting challenge for any opponent.

“Funk Master” suggests that if Holloway can expertly control the distance and fully capitalize on his reach advantage, he has a real shot at toppling Topuria.

Sterling Predicts Holloway Might Push Topuria To His Limits In Championship Rounds

During a recent appearance on Verse Us with Eric Nicksick, Sterling weighed in on the Topuria vs. Holloway clash at UFC 308. The former UFC bantamweight champion acknowledged “El Matador’s” knockout power, yet he pointed out several potential vulnerabilities.

Sterling believes that if Holloway can maintain the fight on the feet and execute his striking game with precision, it could spell trouble for the defending champion.

“Topuria is a savage; that guy can crack, but he struggled with Volkanovski in the first round,” Sterling said. “Enter Max Holloway: great footwork, high guard, long punches. He has shorter reach than Volkanovski, but his footwork is what helps him so much in his fights, and he’s great durability. So if he gets back to his kicking game and stays in his range—Topuria, I think, is 5’6″, maybe 5’7″. Max has a shorter reach for a guy at 145 pounds; I think it’s like 67″. So you look at that, you look at Topuria’s great grappling, but Max has great takedown defense. If Max could stay on his bike and touch him from the outside, it would be very interesting to see what happens in the later rounds.”

“Funk Master” went on to highlight that Topuria’s cardio remains relatively untested, and he suggested that if “Blessed” can extend the fight into the fourth and fifth rounds while maintaining a measured striking approach, it could pose yet another challenge for the undefeated Georgian-Spaniard.

“We haven’t seen Topuria [get] exhausted or tired yet. In round five with Josh Emmett, he was in the driver’s seat the whole time, but what happens if you could set a little fatigue in him—him having some failed takedown attempts, or even if he gets the takedowns and Max can get back up—it makes the fight very interesting. He’s always in your face with those spinning back kicks. If Max gets back to the old-school Max, it’s a very intriguing fight.”

Read More: Max Holloway Touted To Dispatch Ilia Topuria At UFC 308: ‘That’s Gonna Be His Downfall…’

Continue Reading Former Champ Analyzes Topuria vs. Holloway Title Fight At UFC 308: ‘What Happens If You Could Set A Little Fatigue In Him?’ at MMA News.

Robert Whittaker on Chimaev showdown: I’ve had two camps for this guy, I’m at my best’

Once more booked to take on the unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev later this year following a failed pairing…

Once more booked to take on the unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev later this year following a failed pairing back in June, former champion, Robert Whittaker is more than confident of defeating the Chechen when they share the Octagon at UFC 308 in two months’ time.

Whittaker, the current number three ranked divisional contender, returned to action back in June in the main event of UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia — sharing the Octagon with the surging prospect, Ikram Aliskerov.

Robert Whittaker offers Dricus du Plessis, Israel Adesanya UFC 305 fight prediction

And recording a stunning first round knockout win over the Russian, Whittaker was initially scheduled to headline the Riyadh card against the undefeated Chimaev, who withdrew from the promotion’s first venture to the region citing a “violent” illness.

However, rebooked to co-headline UFC 308 at the end of October over the course of five rounds, Whittaker is set to meet Chimaev before an undisputed featherweight title fight — as the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria takes on the streaking former champion, Max Holloway.

Robert Whittaker confident of taking the ‘0’ from Khamzat Chimaev’s record

And weighing up his fight with the Chechen contender, Whittaker insisted he was at his “best” ahead of the matchup — having devoted two separate training camps to the former.

Robert Whittaker def. Ikram Aliskerov UFC on ABC 6 3

“I’ve essentially had two camps for this guy (Khamzat Chimaev), right?” Robert Whittaker told Submission Radio. “I thnk skill-set-wise, I’m probably at the best I’ve been. I’ve been especially most prepared for Khamzat, theoretically speaking as I could be, right?”

“… You know, you’ve got to worry about how hard he’s going to push the wresting envelope in the first few rounds,” Robert Whittaker explained. “And then, like, what I’m going to do after that, after I stop the takedowns, after I get back up or whatever, and just taking the fight to him.”

Out of action since October of last year, Chimaev most recently landed a controversial majority decision win over former welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman on just days notice in Abu Dhabi, UAE.