Robert Whittaker is confident that Alexander Volkanovski`s time as a champion is not over yet.
Volkanovski has an upcoming fight against Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314 this Saturday. This opportunity arises because Ilia Topuria, the current champion, has moved up to the lightweight division. Despite recent knockout losses, including a short-notice rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski is in a prime position to reclaim his title.
Although Volkanovski is 36 and no longer considered in his prime, Whittaker believes the Australian fighter still possesses the necessary skills to dominate the featherweight division once again.
“Volk’s skill set is top-tier,” Whittaker stated on his MMArcade Podcast. He envisions Volkanovski utilizing calf kicks and his signature step-through left hand, pushing Diego back, and employing takedowns against the fence. Whittaker recalls Volkanovski`s wrestling background, especially early in his career, and expects him to use it effectively. Whittaker anticipates a well-rounded Volkanovski showcasing his top-tier skills, potentially leading to another Australian champion.
Before his loss to Topuria, Volkanovski was undefeated in the featherweight division. However, his resilience has been questioned after being knocked out by Makhachev and then by Topuria just four months later.
The loss to Topuria was particularly surprising considering Volkanovski`s reputation for durability and his impressive reign as featherweight champion. He initially won the title by defeating Max Holloway at UFC 245 and successfully defended it five times, including two rematches with Holloway.
Whittaker emphasizes that he has witnessed Volkanovski`s capabilities numerous times and is not ready to dismiss him.
“The key question is which version of Volk will we see at UFC 314?” Whittaker pondered. He noted the discussions surrounding Volkanovski`s losses to Makhachev and Topuria, his age, and the tendency of MMA fans to quickly write off fighters after losses. Whittaker finds such reactions to be unreasonable.
“The reality is, Volkanovski has had a significant time away from fighting. He is coming off two consecutive losses to Makhachev and Topuria, both being decisive defeats. His age is a factor. So, the question remains: which Volkanovski will appear at UFC 314?”
Whittaker acknowledges Diego Lopes`s current strong form. He believes that a prime Volkanovski would defeat Lopes, citing Volkanovski`s superior skills, composure, toughness, fight IQ, and overall octagon presence. However, he reiterates the uncertainty due to the aforementioned factors, questioning which version of Volkanovski will show up.
Lopes is currently on a five-fight winning streak since a close debut loss to Movsar Evloev in 2023. His recent dominant victory was against Brian Ortega, a two-time UFC title challenger, yet he is still considered the underdog against Volkanovski.
Whittaker agrees with this assessment and predicts Volkanovski will win by decision. He expects Volkanovski to utilize his full skillset, land strikes, attempt takedowns, and ultimately wear down Diego Lopes over five rounds to secure a victory.
“I foresee Volk entering the octagon, employing his complete range of skills, landing shots, attempting takedowns, tiring out Diego Lopes over five rounds, and winning by decision,” Whittaker concluded. “Or possibly finishing him in the later rounds.”
