Alexander Volkanovsky broke a bone in his left hand Saturday night in his fight against Max Holloway.
Even that didn’t stand in the way of his dominant performance.
Volkanovsky (25-1) retained the featherweight title at UFC 276, extending his undefeated streak in the octagon to twelve, with a convincing unanimous decision win against Holloway. The champ dominated all five rounds, leaving Holloway’s face battered, bruised, and bloodied. After two close fights against Holloway (23-7) – a unanimous victory in 2019 and a closer margin of victory in a split decision to win in 2020 – Volkanovsky removed any part of the remaining doubt that he is, undoubtedly, the better of the two.
“This class ended on Saturday, and it’s good to put an end to it,” Volkanovsky says. “I have a lot of respect for Max. After the fight I talked to him and told him. Max made me raise the bar. That’s how I became the fighter I am now.”
Volkanovsky’s speed was a constant factor. He never allowed Holloway to land any devastating blow, or even feel comfortable. Volkanovsky landed more significant hits, from 199 to 127, outperforming Holloway in each round. Holloway simply could not break, even when Volkanovsky fractured his left hand.
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“I broke it in the second round,” Volkanovsky says. “It made wrestling a little bit harder, but I was still able to play it. It didn’t stop me from doing what I wanted. Although it hurt, it was so worth it.”
An injury would likely prevent Volkanovsky from fighting for a third time this year, which is what he had intended to do. However, the win puts him in the perfect position to jump into the lightweight division once a new champion is crowned, becoming the number one contender to claim the vacant title.
Many MMA insiders and varsity cognoscenti have already made up their minds about Volkanovski as a lightweight. While dominant as a featherweight, he is believed to be quite small at 155. Despite the stark contrast in character and style, the comparison to Conor McGregor is fair, as McGregor did not have the same strength or power among the light weights that he had while participating From the featherweight division. A similar struggle has meaning for Volkanovsky, who knows all too well the understatement.
“People will continue to doubt me, and that’s okay,” Volkanovsky says. “I love being the underdog. I have made a career out of him. They can keep doubting me, and I will continue to prove them wrong. I will continue to prove myself every time I step into the cage.”
“You still haven’t seen me at my best. The sky’s the limit.”
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