Volkanovski defends featherweight title with style
Alexander Volkanovski believes he presents the toughest matchup for Diego Lopes. At UFC 325, Volkanovski defeated Lopes again to defend his featherweight belt. The fight resembled their first encounter the previous year.
Lopes had a major opportunity to avenge his earlier loss, but fans questioned his chances. Despite showing some improvements, he faced a steep challenge in Sydney earlier this month.
Volkanovski explains why Lopes struggled
Volkanovski thinks Lopes may have missed his chance to win the 145-pound title. Lopes admitted UFC 325 might be his last shot at the belt against an opponent who had already beaten him.
During an appearance on the MightyCast, Volkanovski told Demetrious Johnson that the stylistic matchup always favored him.
“I feel bad because I’m probably the worst possible matchup for the guy,” Volkanovski said. “My IQ and footwork made it impossible for him to handle.”
He added that the quick turnaround between fights only amplified the difficulty. “He’s pretty much wasted his chance against me. I could go 50 minutes while he stayed confused.”
Rematch timing did not favor Lopes
Volkanovski also noted that scheduling the rematch less than a year after the first fight hurt Lopes’ chances. The Brazilian struggled to cut off the Octagon both times, a key skill he needed to improve.
“It was like he was told to be patient and use his jab, but there was no real strategy,” Volkanovski said. “He claims he’s grown, but I didn’t see any improvement. His first fight performance was better.”
Stats back up Volkanovski’s dominance
Volkanovski excels in output and distance management, two areas he uses to control his fights. In their first encounter, he outlanded Lopes 158 significant strikes to 63.
In the rematch, Lopes landed the biggest strike of the fight, dropping Volkanovski in the third round. The stats suggest some improvement for Lopes: he was outlanded 98 to 70, closer than before.
Still, Lopes only won two of 15 rounds on the judges’ scorecards. Even in a tighter contest, Volkanovski proved he remains the superior fighter.
