Jon Anik thinks Alexander Volkanovski can separate himself from each different featherweight at UFC 314.
Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and Diego Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will compete for the vacant title in Saturday’s most important occasion at Kaseya Heart from Miami (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN/Disney+, ESPN+).
The previous five-time defending featherweight champion will look to reclaim his title after shedding it to Ilia Topuria by knockout at UFC 298. If Volkanovski is profitable, Anik sees him solidifying his standing as the best featherweight of all time.
“The way in which you and I and others really feel about Diego Lopes, beating a major Diego Lopes proper now to regain the throne on the backend of all the pieces that Volkanovski has carried out, for me, would make him cemented as essentially the most embellished featherweight champion of all time,” Anik informed MMA Junkie. “I believe it’s arduous while you firm anybody to Jose Aldo, as a result of I can barely be within the room with the man, I get so star struck. I’ve referred to as principally Volkanovski’s whole profession.”
Jose Aldo confronted an identical scenario to Volkanovski. “The King of Rio” defended his UFC featherweight title seven occasions in his first reign and was capable of declare the interim title – which was later promoted to an undisputed title after beating Frankie Edgar at UFC 200.
However Anik sees Volkanovski defeating Lopes topping that.
“We’ll see what occurs,” Anik mentioned. “If he can get by Diego Lopes, I might have a tough time arguing Jose Aldo.”
Volkanovski will look to rebound after back-to-back knockout losses to UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev and Topuria. Not solely is he up in opposition to the statistic of fighters being 35 and older having a low win proportion, however fighters coming into title bouts off back-to-back losses are 0-5.
“It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see what model of Volkanovski exhibits up right here,” Anik mentioned. “I believe one phase of the fan base and the pundit base who believes this day without work goes to end in a major Alexander Volkanovski displaying up, and that perhaps he didn’t lead the league in MMA miles per UFC. Then one other phase of individuals really feel like he’s within the twilight of his profession.
“And that’s why they play the video games. I are inclined to lean extra in the direction of we’re going to get a major Volkanovski and the problem may simply be that Diego Lopes is an absolute killer. I simply really feel just like the vibe I’m getting from Volk, the preparation, the day without work – I believe he’s going to carry out nearly as good as ever. Undecided it’ll be sufficient. We’ll discover out.”
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