Morning Report: Robert Whittaker breaks down how Alexander Volkanovski becomes champion again at UFC 314

Robert Whittaker believes Alexander Volkanovski’s championship days are removed from over.

Volkanovski has the possibility to regain the featherweight title when he fights Diego Lopes for a vacant belt this Saturday at UFC 314. The title is up for grabs with champion Ilia Topuria transferring as much as light-weight and Volkanovski falls proper again into an enormous alternative regardless of shedding his previous two fights by knockout (together with a short-notice rematch with light-weight champion Islam Makhachev).

At 36, Volkanovski is not in his prime, however Whittaker is assured his fellow Aussie has greater than sufficient left within the tank to reclaim his spot atop the featherweight division.

“Volk’s ability set’s top-tier,” Whittaker stated on his MMArcade Podcast. “I can see him chopping that calf, doing his step-through left hand. I can see him pushing Diego backwards, dropping for doubles towards the fence. He stopped utilizing it as a lot as soon as he was champ, aside from towards folks like Yair [Rodriguez]… however he wrestled quite a bit at first of his profession and utilized it to nice impact. So I reckon we see well-rounded Volk top-tier ability set, and we now have one other champ in Australia.”

Previous to shedding to Topuria, Volkanovski had by no means been defeated in a 145-pound contest. Nevertheless, his sturdiness has come into query after Makhachev floored him with a head kick after which Topuria knocked him out chilly simply 4 months later.

The Topuria consequence was notably surprising given Volkanovski’s legendary sturdiness and his unbelievable run as featherweight champion. Volkanovski defeated Max Holloway to win the title at UFC 245 after which efficiently defended it 5 consecutive instances, together with two rematches with Holloway.

Whittaker has seen Volkanovski at his greatest too many instances to rely him out now.

“I feel the million-dollar query is what Volk are we going to see within the octagon come that night time, come UFC 314?” Whittaker stated. “Everybody was already speaking about his losses to Makhachev, his knockout, after which again on to the knockout with Topuria, again on to his age, and as MMA followers love to do, as quickly as he misplaced they began throwing his age round and calling him a wash, which is the silliest factor I’ve ever heard. MMA followers are the most effective and worst of us as folks, they are surely.

“The reality is he’s been out for some time now. He’s coming off two losses in a row, Makhachev and Topuria, unhealthy losses the final couple. His age is an element on this. Which Volk are we going to see within the octagon come 314?”

“Diego’s in a really, very harmful type proper now,” Whittaker added. “‘Makhachev 1 Volk,’ I feel beats Diego Lopes. Volk’s ability set and simply his composure, his toughness, his grit, his combat IQ, his potential to combat within the octagon is second to none. However once more, with all the opposite components we glance in to it, which Volk will we see?”

Lopes has gained 5 straight since an exciting short-notice debut loss to Movsar Evloev in 2023. He’s coming off of a dominant win over two-time UFC title challenger Brian Ortega, however is at the moment a slight underdog to Volkanovski.

That is sensible to Whittaker, who predicts the bout will go the gap with Volkanovski being declared “And Once more” by Bruce Buffer ultimately.

“I see Volk getting in there, utilizing full ability units, touchdown pictures, going for takedowns, carrying Diego Lopes down, driving him for 5 rounds, and profitable a choice,” Whittaker stated. “Or by getting him out of there within the later finish of the rounds.”

Outcomes. Lerone Murphy outpoints Josh Emmett, fires again at rowdy crowd after profitable UFC Vegas 105 most important occasion.

Principally clear. Michael Chandler addresses dishonest accusations forward of UFC 314 combat with Paddy Pimblett.

Confrontation. Henry Cejudo describes loopy confrontation with man who crashed automotive in home, assaulted neighbor.

Goals. Lerone Murphy needs to journey the identical path as Diego Lopes to get a title shot, names subsequent opponent.

Showboat. Javier Mendez says Merab Dvalishvili ‘showboated his method to profitable’ towards Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311.

UFC Vegas 105 post-fight present.

MMA Combating’s Mike Heck chops it up with Michael Chandler forward of a pivotal combat with Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314.

UFC 314 Countdown.

Michael Bisping seems to be forward to UFC 314’s greatest storylines.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Combating’s Mike Heck and Alexander Okay. Lee make lemons out of lemonade after a dreary UFC Vegas 105 occasion. What’s subsequent for the still-undefeated Lerone Murphy and what’s the funniest attainable matchup for Torrez Finney?

Winners write the historical past.

However respect.

Ortega responds to Murphy’s callout?

Chang Ho Lee, the champ sees you.

Make of this what you’ll.

Truth.

Who subsequent?

That is actual coaching.

Ariane da Silva (17-10) vs. Wang Cong (7-1); UFC 316, June 7

We made it by way of UFC Vegas 105 in a single piece! We is perhaps barely lesser than we have been earlier than, however we made it, and now we now have a handsome pay-per-view forward of us. Buckle up for UFC 314, combat followers, you deserves this.

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