SUMMARY
- Previously, Ilia Topuria won the featherweight title against Alexander Volkanovski via KO.
- In a podcast episode, T.J. Dillashaw commented on Alexander Volkanovski's performance at UFC 298.
The MMA world is still in shock after one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. When the former No. 1 pound-for-pound UFC fighter and Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski lost his title against the Spanish mixed martial artist Ilia Topuria in the main event at UFC 298. The bout ended with the former champion unconsciously knocked out on the canvas, and fans left in astonishment.
Although many believed it would be a tough fight for the featherweight, none had predicted such a devastating outcome. Former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw shared his analysis of the fight and the way things played out.
During a podcast, the bantamweight stated, “I know that he[Volkanovski] was scared of the power, you can see the way he was fighting; he was very scared of Topuria’s power He has never fought like that in the past. The first two rounds, all he was doing was throwing kicks; he wasn’t setting him up; he was expecting Topuria to block him”.
T.J. Dillashaw breaks down Alex Volkanovski’s performance at UFC 298 pic.twitter.com/wRawSTl0JK
— ᴍᴍᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴄᴜs 🏝️ (@mmamarcuss) February 20, 2024
Dillashaw further went on to comment on Volk’s performance, “He was fighting scared; he was worried about the power…He kept leaning away, leaning away from the power, and there was only a matter of time before Topuria caught him… He was scared of his power, fought scared, Topuria didn’t have anything to lose, Volk had all that to lose and he fought that way”.
He believed that the featherweight champion wasn’t in his usual zone. And was fighting too defensively in his approach against Topuria, who is known for his knockout power and crisp striking.
Many fans agreed with the bantamweight’s fight breakdown and overview of Volk’s performance. The featherweight faced his first loss in the UFC featherweight division and lost his title reign, which was the longest current active run in the UFC. Many believe it could be due to his high activity, being 35 years old now. And also after stepping up on short notice against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
Alexander Volkanovski reflects on his loss against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298
After suffering the biggest loss of his career, Volkanovski shared his perspective on his YouTube channel. The featherweight stated, “I thought I was doing great….Next time it’ll be different….I’m just gonna have a little bit of a rest. I definitely want that rematch… We’ll get back in there and we’ll make it right”. He was positive that he would be able to make a comeback against the Spanish on his return.
Volkanovski acknowledged his opponent’s tactics and game plan and felt that he was doing well in the first round, which he feels he won. At the moment, Volk felt that he needed rest and recovery and would be open to headlining against the new champion, Topuria, in his hometown. He also appreciated the support and love he has been receiving from the fans, who are eager for him to bounce back.
The featherweight division does lack a new opponent currently for Topuria, and many believe the former featherweight champion is more than deserving of his rematch. This time, the MMA community would be hoping to see the old Volk back with his elite performances, which have kept the audience hooked and made them a fan of the Austrailian.
