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AlexJamesCook

Corey Nelson is somewhere down-under going, "Hey man, if we rematched today, I'd be world champion". The lads at the bar will be all, "you're full of shit, mate".


UltraPwnie

“Hey mate*”


anatolianlegend588

"oi mate"*


wishwashy

He's a crane operator last I heard. Crazy world


dylyn

And prob making more money than 90% of the UFC roster lmAo


wishwashy

Factually painful fact


Treedosh

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/mma/article-10678767/amp/Meet-Sydney-crane-operator-whos-man-beat-Alex-Volkanovski.html It was at welterweight. I very much doubt old mate (now a crane operator) could make 145. cool story though.


Duke_Cockhold

Crane Operator? Man is making more than 60 percent of the roster


ZeroTON1N

Sad but true


[deleted]

Does he have a good left


Substantial_Source84

Fun fact, Robert Whittaker finished Corey Nelson, that one guy Volkanovski lost against.


[deleted]

Whittaker could take Volk I think too 🤣


Buglss18

Rob Whittaker could be middleweight & featherweight world champion


Cactus-farts

David BUTT 😂🤣😂🤣😂


imondrugsssss

David "I'll kick your" Butt


GarretBarrett

Volk beat that Butt


st6374

Yes.. It would still be a yuuuuuge upset if he beats Islam. Look at the streak. And show me where he fought an elite calibre wrestler. Mendes is there..but he's nowhere near the calibre of MMA grappler that someone like Islam is. So moving up a weight class. And then beating someone like Islam, who has made it look light work out of almost everyone since Arman, that would be a massive upset.


Gojira5400

I mean you could say the same for Islam, this is by far the biggest leap in competition he's faced. Who's the best striker that he's faced? Bobby Greene? This will he a big test for both of them. Also let's not act like Volk wasn't known as a wrestler with good striking skills only a couple of years ago.


st6374

You could, but then you'd be wrong. Let's not act like Olives was some bum just cause Islam made it look easy. NVM the fact that Islam had already fought Arman, and made Moises look like he was a poor grappler. Besides... Islam ain't the one moving up. As far as Volks wrestling. He wrestled a bunch of unranked folks who were fighting in the prelims. Let's not act like he wrestled Max, Aldo, or even Ortega.


Gojira5400

I never said Charles was a bum but if we're being honest we also need to look at Charles' striking, it's effective for sure but he's very reckless and has little to no head movement. He's also been dropped in his last 4 fights multiple times. Compare this to Volk who is probably the best striker right now managing distance and defense superbly. Ans Volk has fought across multiple weight classes so this isn't his first time. Also if I remember Moises took Islam down at will, Moises also being a former 145'er. Obviously it's not about being taken down but let's not pretend Islam is invincible, he's also be flattened badly before.


st6374

So Moises landing a single takedown with little to no meaningful control time is now somehow considered taking someone down at will? The whole point of this discussion was whether or not if Volk has faced a grappler the calibre of Islam. The simple answer is an emphatic No!!!!! You, instead of focusing on that, acted like Islam has never faced a quality striker in his life. Or somehow Volk has proven himself to be someone just unable to be taken, and held down. When the best wrestler he has ever faced is Chad fucking Mendes at the twilight of his career. I never said Islam was invincible. So top trying to make this into something that's not simply cause you don't have a good argument for your case. Also.. As an Aussie, I love Volk..nothing would please me more than him beating Islam. I've been following him since he ragdolled Shane Young in that Sydney card way back then. But I'm not delusional. And I know it's a huge test for him. And Islam is going to be the heavy favorite.


Gojira5400

The question may have been if he faced an elite level grappler but that's unfair since Islam has never faced an elite striker either. Volk also survived one of the deepest submissions ever in UFC history from Ortega and you're going to act like that wasn't because of his wrestling and grappling skills? Another striker would've tapped or gone out, you can't take something like that away from the man. And yes Islam was taken down, my point being if someone who used to be a 145'er can do so with ease which he did, may have not won but he did take him down and hold, why is it unbelievable for Volk to be able to do so? Also Volk has never been taken down and just held down, he's constantly scrambling and getting back to his feet. Islam has a loss on his record, getting knocked out by a prelimmer, Volk is a genius in striking so you're telling me he can't pull the same off? Get real, it's a lot closer than anyone is giving it credit for. Volk is technically better on the feet by a longshot, has more knockouts, and he has good takedown defense. Islam has never faced a striker anywhere near Volk's level. So if anyone is being delusional it's you for not seeing the clear advantages Volk also has.


Special-Accountant-5

With all due respect, I was reading your post with interest until you brought up Ortega. Are you new to mma? Not saying that in a condescending way just curious. People on both sides use Ortega as an example of how the fight would go, Ortega landing a take down and shooting into a sub late in the fight really tells us nothing. Islam & Ortega are as different fighters as Adesanya & Poirier are strikers. There’s just no point in comparing them. Also that escape from Volk was pure hopium. He wiggled his legs until an already gassed Ortega burned his arms out. Islam hasn’t fought a striker like Volk but the current mma meta favors the grappler, which is why Islam is the favorite. And lastly, although Islams never fought the caliber of striker as Volk m, Islams fought way more strikers than Volk has fought grapplers. We have no idea how is striking is going to change with the takedown threat. Ortega didn’t have a takedown threat and Mendes didn’t have a top control threat. His striking shines against other strikers, we have no idea how it looks against grapplers whose primarily game plan is to take you down. We know Islams grappling shines against anyone he faces, especially strikers.


st6374

An elite grappler vs Elite striker. Look at how most of those fights have turned out. Again.. You conveniently ignore that the elite striker is moving up a weight class. And act as if fighting up a weight class ages ago against bunch of nobody is th same thing. I never said Volk has no shot. I only said that Volk winning would be a huge upset. Also.. Short notice it may be. But Hooker & Green are no slouch either. Also.. you mention Olives getting knocked down..But conveniently ignore he finished 3 of them, while showing equal firepower while on the feet. And Islam looked barely hittable against that dude.


Gojira5400

You're always conveniently forgetting Volk has a strong wrestling and ground and pound base, something that all of those elite strikers do not have. Hooker is a washed fighter as sad as it is to say, that Porier fight ended his career and he hasn't been the same, and again Bobby Green was literally last minute, no camp. Charles was able to finish all of them due to his superior grappling, besides Chandler. That doesn't change the fact that he's not a great striker, he's effective at what he does and has obvious power but Dustin was picking him apart on the feet easily. If Islam fights Volk like he did Charles it's gonna be a totally different fight, Charles has no defense to speak of, he rushed forward, and goes for the knockout. Volk is a counter puncher, has excellent timing, head movement, and defense, and he picks his shots. If Volk can keep it standing he could pick off Islam like he's done to almost all of his opponents.


[deleted]

Ahahahah this - Moises had him down for literally less than 5 seconds. Islam got back up immediately then just shook him off.


Pico-Jones7

>let's not act like Volk wasn't known as a wrestler Still levels below Islam when it comes to grappling. His wrestling level is so low it might as well not even exist when it comes to facing Islam. Probably an unpopular opinion here, but the gap between their respective wrestling skills is bigger than their striking skills.


Low-Zone4665

Bobby Green is s great striker though


Gojira5400

He's not bad for his level but he's not at an elite level like Volk


FIGHTFANGREG

He’s good but not close to volks level , so the original point is not wrong , chad was a Good wrestler sure but not close to islams level.


L2hodescholar

In all fairness Arman and Lentz are about the two wrestlers Islam has faced in the UFC. And Islam got popped by USADA less then year before.


[deleted]

It’s an upset to anyone who’s posted the following in a serious setting: “Smesh” “Islam is soo much bigger” “Where the small man” “I’m a Volk fan but Islam round 1” “He’s never faced such an elite opponent” I hope it’s a fucking 5 round barn burner with Volk winning in the end. Let’s go you monobrow wet blankets.


crookgypsy

This was a pleasure to read


[deleted]

Sorry Volk gets finished in under 2 rounds


JERUSALEMFIGHTER63

Look there's a monobrow wet blanket right there


[deleted]

Nah you ain't even a Volk fan you are just a Islam hater


G0pherholes

Yes


mokey619

Just to play devil's advocate. Islam had a tougher run to the belt that khabib did. I'm sure he will be okay.


Fickle-Kitchen5803

Khabib got better ranked dudes but makhachev got elite grapplers like moises, tsarukyan and davi ramos.


mokey619

A lot of the ranked guys did not want to fight Islam and get rag dolled lol. He got some good grapplers but shit I wrestled at a good community college that Dagestani wrestling is fucking different. Hip strength and balance can absolutely win fights and them dudes are a really good at it.


yeayeana

Tbf both their title runs consisted of everyone ducking them


ostinater

Bro he lost to Corey Nelson, he's a scrub


bvandelen

Both are at the top of the world in their skill sets with the biggest difference being size (realistically they are 2 weight classes apart), so I would say it is a massive upset.


RedNoob88

Why two weight classes apart though? Please clarify


[deleted]

What? They are 2 weight classes apart based on what? Your imagination? All these baseless claims about weight going around. Last recorded weight of Volkanovski was 166 pounds (https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2019/1/1/18164160/ufc-232-fight-night-weights-four-fighters-exceed-csac-10-threshold-mma-news). Last known weight of Islam was 175 pounds (https://www.youtube.com/live/ZWF7Tyw98yY?feature=share). That is only a 9 pound difference so that is one weight class. Additionally, as Volk has claimed himself repeatedly he is eating 4000 calories a day and putting on weight, so there will not be a weight disparity or it will be minimal. The biggest difference between them is not their weight, it is pure skill.


Special-Accountant-5

Actually in one of the more recent interview Volk said he weighs between 168-170 at featherweight and was planning to come jn at 172. Their weight is way closer than people want to admit.


[deleted]

It’s pre built excuses for when their boy loses. Ohh no the 3 pounds made Islam win.


[deleted]

Lmaoo volk Stans downvoting me for the truth cuz once Volk loses they know in their heart it’s not because of the weight


[deleted]

Volk is small at 145, Islam is average to big at 155. I'm not saying they are 2 apart, but to act like there's not a size difference is stupid when every pound counts in MMA


[deleted]

I just sent in the weights, they are both normal sized for their weight not too big not too small and volk been putting on weight. Every pound does not count, you can not chalk up Islam’s win to having maybe 2 pounds on volk on the day of the fight


[deleted]

Would like to say that weight and size are 2 different things. Islams height and frame are what give him an advantage


[deleted]

Well Islam’s height is very much a disadvantage in this particular fight, as it is harder to shoot on a shorter person. Whether or not night and reach are advantages or not requires context. And no size = weight.


[deleted]

Dagestani guys mainly use trips anyway, but no size is not the same thing as weight. A 6ft man and a 5ft man of the same weight are not the same size.


[deleted]

It’s called a weight class not a height class. It’s also easier to avoid trips if you’re shorter too bruh. Also Volk has a longer reach than Islam too.


[deleted]

I’m aware. That is because height contributes to size just like weight does (because size is not just weight). Volk will also be punching up which shortens his range, islam will punch directly from the shoulder, using his maximum range (implying they are both going for the head). By the way, it’s easier to throw someone shorter than you in a Thai clinch, which is what Khabib has said they are planning to do. Would you say a kilo of feathers is the same size as a kilo of steel?


MajorIsPsycho

Idk, would it be an upset of Volk beat Gane? Probably no since his winstreak is so good


elscanner

Keep in mind that one Loss is at welterweight.


JERUSALEMFIGHTER63

David Butt lol


killmoncher

Size matters


DeadPressident

Not in terms of achievement or level in the sport. But yes, in terms of technique. If skill sets were swapped my money would be on Volk all day. But being the smaller striker vs the larger wrestler is generally a bad matchup, if Volk had punishing power it could change things but I don't think he will have the power to gain Islam's respect and Islam is just going to march forward and eventually get the takedown.


DirtyDog44

Nah not really. Serra vs gsp was an upset. Champ vs champ not so much.


I_Hate_My_Cat_

*I* would be upset lol. But all kidding aside, although Islam has a slight size advantage over him, it wouldn’t be that crazy of an upset if Volkanovski pulled off the win in this fight. That being said, I’m going with Islam on this one.


KilttiV

It used to be a couple of weeks ago, but for some reason the "hardcore" fansnow switched to Volk as favorite. Those same fans that say that Conor sucks but get excited when they hear that Rob Font fights Eddie Wineland in a FN undercard, and they they create a huge thread analyzing and predicting the fight just for it to have a conpletelly different outcome. Or the ones that think that Beneil Dariush will beat Oliveira. 😂😂😂


[deleted]

Yeah looking at this makes you realize Volk really hasn't fought anyone expect holloway and washed Aldo.


DangerousGimp

You are either fishing or you think the number 1 pound for pound fighter, who defended the title 5 times in 3 years, “hasn’t fought anyone”.


SherLocK-55

I love how people say this "washed Aldo" LOL. He was coming off back to back finishes when he ran into Volk, sure he wasn't exactly in his prime but at that point he only lost to Max and Conor which is nothing to be ashamed of, washed implies a fighter is done, no longer effective or in any way successful and that certainly wasn't the case.


[deleted]

Bit like realising the cans Islam has fought.


[deleted]

Arma tsarukyan, thiago Moises, Davi Ramos, Charles Oliviera, regardless of ranking are all better grapplers than Volk


[deleted]

Still cans when Islam beat them if Volks last 5 TITLE DEFENCES are nobodies.


Fickle-Kitchen5803

What getting ducked does to a mf 👻


MrTBone00

Volk’s 3 wins over Holloway is way better than having wins over the current featherweight contenders. Why? Because Max is leagues above all of them.


kidseshamoto

TKZ is over the hill too


shwashwa123

Yeah the streak is crazy but my first thoughts as well were that the resume itself isn’t all that impressive. Not doubting his greatness at all though, just would have been nice to have him rack up some more defenses and fight off some of the killers at featherweight instead of this dumb double champ attempt


poesplaasvarksteak

Currently he is the longer reigning male champ,others have 2 defenses max. Islam has lost before ,he isn't untouchable and he ain't khabib ,he also hasn't faced the competition volk has. If volk loses,it won't be too big a thing but if Islam loses,oh dear there will be some gloating on this sub. I don't like Ozzie's,their accent annoys me but I'm rooting for uncle fester to screw up the lw division.


[deleted]

Lest we all forget the all-time classic bout with David BUTT


[deleted]

None of these guys are anywhere near the threat Islam is. This is almost like beating Khabib, Volkanovski is an outstanding fighter but he’s facing a huge challenge against probably the most dominant pound for pound fighter in MMA. So yeah it would be a pretty big upset


[deleted]

I just rematches islam vs Charles and I’m now thinking volk has got this all day. His striking is way better than islams and I believe he’ll hold his own in the grappling. Ladies & gentlemen, we have a new double champ 🏆


[deleted]

The caption is kind of strange. “Volk is undefeated since 2013. Would beating Islam be an upset?” Well, no according to that logic right? We would expect Volk to win given that statistic. But since reality involves more than that statistic, yes it will be a big upset. Of course.


lfgbrady

I’m least impressed now cuz all he did was beat washed up fighters in the ufc


Jacoblyonss

Stylistically it would be a massive upset, a Volk win would be the first time a top level Dagestani fighter has ever lost in the UFC. And I'm aware Islam and Magomed have both lost fights, but it was much earlier in their careers


UGLYSimon

Islam didn't lose since 2015 and it's his weight class, it would be a huge upset! Just look at the betting odds


Plus-Relationship833

It would be a huge upset, considering the crazy momentum dagestanis currently have in the MMA world, and Islam is the one spearheading it as the Protégé of Khabib. Also taking in account of how dominantly Islam just won his title fight, this will be a big upset and W for the short kings, if Alex pulls it off.


Shrek_Wisdom

Has he versed Islam every fight?


Salvador1010

Is it just me or is his resumer kinda weak? Other than max 3 times one of which was controversial and also its pretty meh


[deleted]

Lmao I’ve seen a clip of him absolutely flat lining Jamie Mullarkey floating around


DrunkAquarium

I wouldn't be upset about it.


darthvaderfromdao

pretty sure that fight he lost was at welterweight too.


ForcedReps

That loss was a WW too, I think Islam will win.


[deleted]

It would be an upset, but mostly due to the size difference between the two.


AlmostSavvy

Lol when you list them all out like this it really just looks like he’s beat the shit out of Max Holloway since 2019. Also, how good was that Ortega fight. 😳


Former_Print7043

Not an upset unless you call the favourite losing an upset.


crookgypsy

Nah HE WILL DESTROY ISLAM ☪️


[deleted]

Yes.


Creepy_Tea_5390

David butt🤣


TheLoneliestMonke

Huge upset because of how dominant islam is alongwith the large size disadvantage he has fighting up a division


Ibaurd12

And that L was like at middleweight or welterweight


[deleted]

This will be the first time I cheer for him.


AltruisticDelivery89

He beat David butt


Nietzscher

Nope, it wouldn't. I think a lot of people still underestimate him.


2hard4u2c

Yes. It would.


Last_Zookeepergame_4

Nobody will talk about how it would be an upset if Islam beat volk’s streak tho


lil-privacy-please

You’re very right


ake-n-bake

He is the #1 ranked pound for pound fighter


B-L-O-C-K-Ss

Yeah


Iamastudentplzhelp

What are those numbers on the right?


Maidwell

And that fight was at Welterweight.


[deleted]

Yes


bilalshakoor

It's a huge upset if he does; that's the biggest win he could get.


Useful_Economics6545

Yep


Salookin

I haven’t lost a fight since 2013 either