MMA News: UFC Legend Warns Alexander Volkanovski Against Ilia Topuria Rematch
One of the greatest champions in UFC history doesn’t think Alexander Volkanovski should rush into an immediate rematch with Ilia Topuria.
Volkanovski entered last weekend's UFC 298 main event with an unbeaten record in the featherweight division and a total of five title defenses to his name, but “The Great” was knocked out by Topuria in the second round and relinquished his belt to the unbeaten fighter.
The Australian has now been knocked out in back-to-back fights after he also came up short in a rematch with lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev last October, and although Volkanovski is deserving of an immediate chance to reclaim his belt Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson isn’t convinced that would be the best idea.
Volkanovski has now lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his career.
(Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
“I watched his press conference, and he still seems bubbly,” Johnson said on his YouTube channel. “There’s a spirit about him where he wants to continue to fight. But the question is, does he do an immediate rematch? For me, after listening to the press conference, Volkanovski was like ‘Man, I was gonna start adding more things to the fight.' But when I sit here – if llia gets the opportunity to touch you, you’re going to sleep.”
Considered by some to be the greatest fighter in MMA history, Johnson was the UFC’s first flyweight champion and sat atop the division for nearly six years before he suffered a split decision loss in a rematch with Henry Cejudo and later moved on to ONE Championship.
“Mighty Mouse” is as knowledgeable and experienced as any fighter in the sport, and as much respect as he has for Volkanovski’s skills he isn’t certain the Australian is capable of besting Topuria if they were to meet again.
Topuria appears poised to become a major star for the UFC.
(Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)
“I don’t know what other toolset he was gonna bring to the fight to stop Ilia from getting to him. If they do a rematch, all Ilia has to do is touch him. He has to run away from Ilia Topuria for 25 minutes…It’s not like Alex Volkanovski has a range advantage. I don’t think Alex Volkanovski’s faster than him. I do think Alex Volkanovski does use more tools…But I truly feel like Ilia Topuria is a bad matchup for Alex Volkanovski.”
“The Great” was one of the UFC’s more active champions during his title reign, but even if he is interested in an immediate rematch with Topuria the 35-year-old will probably need to take a significant amount of time off after consecutive knockout losses.
Featherweight certainly has no shortage of potential challengers for the newly-crowned champion, although “El Matador” has already dismissed the idea of fighting several of the division's biggest names and seems more interested in pursuing a fight with Conor McGregor.
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