Alexander Volkanovski made historical past at UFC 314 after profitable a back-and-forth battle towards Diego Lopes to reclaim the featherweight title in the primary occasion.
The victory crowns Volkanovski as champion once more and he turns into the primary fighter over 35 years outdated to carry a UFC title in any division from 155 kilos or under. Whereas he needed to battle by way of some adversity, Volkanovski largely placed on a classic efficiency to outwork and outstrike Lopes throughout all 5 rounds.
The ultimate tallies on the scorecards learn 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 with Volkanovski changing into a two-time featherweight champion with the win.
“It’s good to be again,” Volkanovski mentioned after having the title wrapped round his waist once more. “I’ve by no means felt the love a lot. I used to be saying all week, I mentioned I promised my women I’d deliver the belt again to them. I believe the message was lots of people counted me out, coming off two knocked out losses. Come again and beat a gun like Diego Lopes. It’s good to be again. Adversity is a privilege. This second is unimaginable.
“That is shit persons are going to write down books about. There’s going to be motion pictures. That kind of shit. That’s what it’s all about.”
Whereas it definitely wasn’t the end result Lopes needed, he nonetheless made an incredible exhibiting for himself in his first alternative at changing into a UFC champion. He made no excuses afterwards however promised he would climb that mountain once more earlier than his profession is over.
“It was an honor to share the octagon with a man like Alexander Volkanovski,” Lopes mentioned. “However I’ll be again. It is a man who’s so skilled within the UFC. I can see myself coming. I’m going to get higher, I’m going to come back again and I’m going to be a champion.”
A quick begin helped Volkanovski set the tone for the struggle after he blasted Lopes with an enormous left hook throughout an early change that clearly rattled the first-time title challenger. Volkanovski adopted that up with a takedown as he hammered away at Lopes, who regarded like was getting overwhelmed with none solutions for the previous champion.
Volkanovski was actually settling right into a rhythm as he picked his photographs from the surface whereas Lopes simply wasn’t reacting with a lot offense of his personal. One other big punch from Volkanovski rocked Lopes once more as he stumbled backwards in the direction of the cage, though he was in a position to shrug off a takedown try that adopted.
Simply when it regarded like Volkanovski was in full management, Lopes cracked him with a shot that dropped the Australian to the bottom momentarily. As Volkanovski obtained again up because the spherical ended, he regarded visibly upset that he obtained caught by the punch that put him down.
Whereas that was a disappointing finish to the second spherical, Volkanovski recovered nicely and reset with a very good technique popping out within the third. Volkanovski snapped off some stable mixtures together with a stiff left hook that popped Lopes on the jaw.
Lopes was struggling to actually get Volkanovski to have interaction with him in a brawl, which is strictly the type of struggle he needed. It wasn’t till he lastly stepped into a pleasant change when he snapped off a straight left adopted by a proper uppercut that wobbled Volkanovski and backed him off.
Volkanovski began wiping at his eye from the injury accomplished and Lopes surged ahead attempting to doubtlessly ship a end. Whereas it was a tricky place, Volkanovski stayed affected person and by no means let Lopes actually take benefit earlier than he was in a position to return to his nook.
It was there Volkanovski advised his coaches that his imaginative and prescient was impaired through the spherical, though he was lastly in a position to see once more. That clearly confirmed through the remaining 5 minutes as Volkanovski continued to stab at Lopes with a nasty lead jab whereas staying away from the ability coming again at him.
Volkanovski’s quantity and precision actually paid dividends with Lopes nonetheless charging ahead however he simply wasn’t in a position to do as a lot injury. Throughout 5 rounds, Volkanovski simply threw and landed extra strikes whereas Lopes confirmed off an unimaginable chin however simply wasn’t in a position to mount sufficient offense to get the victory.
It was an ultra-impressive exhibiting from Volkanovski, who had doubts raised forward of this struggle for the primary time in his UFC profession off back-to-back knockout losses. Now he’s standing tall as champion once more with a rising record of recent contenders at featherweight champing on the bit to problem him.
