GDT: UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski

[Tobias Kahun]

Isn’t 145 extremely thin right now? Volk should easily defeat Yair. Who else is there ?

Yair, Emmet, Kattar, Ortega?

I think Volk dominates all 4.

 

[I am not exposed]

Isn’t 145 extremely thin right now? Volk should easily defeat Yair. Who else is there ?

Maybe Allen, but I think Max beats him.

But yeah, I would take Volk over Yair. Glad the talk of Emmett vs. Volk can be over now.

 

[Tobias Kahun]

Maybe Allen, but I think Max beats him.

But year, I would take Volk over Yair. Glad the talk of Emmett vs. Volk can be over now.

I think Max beats everyone besides Volk.

I think theres a bigger gap between Volk and Max than Max and the field though.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Isn’t 145 extremely thin right now? Volk should easily defeat Yair. Who else is there ?

Not so much that the division is extremely thin so much as Volk has just ran through all of them.

Holloway is one of the best FW’s in UFC history and Volk put on a clinic the last time they fought.

 

[I am not exposed]

I think Max beats everyone besides Volk.

I think theres a bigger gap between Volk and Max than Max and the field though.

Max and Yair were close weren't they?

I do agree with the latter part.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Max and Yair were close weren't they?

I do agree with the latter part.

Close-ish.

I’d say Holloway beat Rodriguez more decisively than Islam just beat Volk, if we want to compare that.

 

[ViD]

Topuria and Evloev could be interesting fights for Volk at 145

 

[I am not exposed]

Close-ish.

I’d say Holloway beat Rodriguez more decisively than Islam just beat Volk, if we want to compare that.

Fair enough. I can't recall that fight that well for some reason. I think Yair has improved since then. Still think Volk wins that fight, but at least I want to see that fight. Which wasn't the case before this card.

 

[CDJ]

Topuria and Evloev could be interesting fights for Volk at 145

Evloev looked HUGE in the last pic I saw. Not to swagger jack @Neutrinos but USADA needs to show up on his doorstep like yesterday

Topuria has a similar physical build to Volk. He’s miles behind in the striking but does have that aggression and power to put anybodys lights out. Awesome subs too but I don’t think that matters much with Volk

 

[CDJ]

POTN: Jack Della Maddalena, Yair Rodriguez

FOTN: main event

 

[MMC]

JDM called for Luque in the press conference. Would love to see that

 

[I am not exposed]

JDM called for Luque in the press conference. Would love to see that

he also called for Shavkat Rakhmonov!

 

[Chaels Arms]

Volk probably beats Rodriguez but I don't think it'll be easy for him at all. Yair is such a whirlwind of chaos that he's probably the best example of an "anything can happen" fighter in the UFC right now.

155 is actually less interesting to me now than 145. Other than Beneil who is really a good matchup for Makhachev?

I like Gamrot, I like Tsarukyan but not against Makhachev. Chandler maybe would be interesting if he wasn't solely focused on KO'ing people.

 

[MMC]

 

[Deadpool8812]

Volk gained more from that loss than Islam did from winning for sure

 

[pistolpete11]

Volk gave it hell. Made it a lot closer than I thought he would, but I agree with Islam winning 1, 2, and 4. The first 3 rounds were all close-ish, but I thought they were pretty clear who won. Even though he came up short, Volk earned a lot of respect with that performance.

Conversely, people are going to be down on Islam, but he impressed me, too. If you told me that much of the fight was going to be on the feet, I would thought that Volk won. We'll see how his wrestling and G&P (or lack thereof) stacks up against the rest of the division, but I think it's fair to say he's not Khabib 2.0. It may be that Volk is just that strong and good defensively, though, so who knows. However, his striking is much better than Khabib's.

Yair looked great. He hit Emmett with everything including the kitchen sink. The fight kind of showed everything we thought going in. Yair would be the faster and better striker, but Emmett has some power and wrestling.....except for Yair winning by sub. I don't know that those odds were, but if anyone made that bet, congratulations.



Volk-Yair is going to be hyped. Can't wait for that fight. They are kind of similar in the sense that their superpower is confusing their opponent. Volk's is more with feints and Yair's is more with throwing anything and everything at any given time. I actually think Yair could give Volk some problems on the feet. I expect Volk to take him down a few times like Max did. Coming off this camp against Islam, Volk's wrestling is better than it's ever been.

I don't know what you do with Islam. I guess it's either Poirier or the Gaethje/Fiziev winner. Really don't want to put him on ice until late summer waiting for maybe, possibly, perhaps Dariush. Fiziev would be great if for nothing else than some fresh blood. As much as I like Poirier and Gaethje, I don't think either would be deserving of a title shot. Even though Islam's wrestling doesn't appear to be quite as dominant as Khabib's, I think both those fights would end up looking similar. If Islam were to f*** around on the feet too much, maybe they could catch him, but that's about it IMO.

 

[CDJ]

A large # of mma fans think this is a robbery and it’s basically only because Volk ended the fight in a great spot. Somebody needs to explain what round by round scoring means to them

#2 was the swing round. 48-47 either way is no robbery

 

[I am not exposed]

A large # of mma fans think this is a robbery and it’s basically only because Volk ended the fight in a great spot. Somebody needs to explain what round by round scoring means to them

#2 was the swing round. 48-47 either way is no robbery

This is a classic example of bias. Most people wanted Volk to win. Volk did better than expected in most peoples eyes. The only round he definitely won was the 5th round. Just because he did better than expected doesn't mean he won the fight. Islam won imo, and I don't think 49-46 was ridiculous like some people thought. 48-47 or 49-46 were fair scores.

 

[m9]

Volk gave it hell. Made it a lot closer than I thought he would, but I agree with Islam winning 1, 2, and 4. The first 3 rounds were all close-ish, but I thought they were pretty clear who won. Even though he came up short, Volk earned a lot of respect with that performance.

Conversely, people are going to be down on Islam, but he impressed me, too. If you told me that much of the fight was going to be on the feet, I would thought that Volk won. We'll see how his wrestling and G&P (or lack thereof) stacks up against the rest of the division, but I think it's fair to say he's not Khabib 2.0. It may be that Volk is just that strong and good defensively, though, so who knows. However, his striking is much better than Khabib's.

Yair looked great. He hit Emmett with everything including the kitchen sink. The fight kind of showed everything we thought going in. Yair would be the faster and better striker, but Emmett has some power and wrestling.....except for Yair winning by sub. I don't know that those odds were, but if anyone made that bet, congratulations.



Volk-Yair is going to be hyped. Can't wait for that fight. They are kind of similar in the sense that their superpower is confusing their opponent. Volk's is more with feints and Yair's is more with throwing anything and everything at any given time. I actually think Yair could give Volk some problems on the feet. I expect Volk to take him down a few times like Max did. Coming off this camp against Islam, Volk's wrestling is better than it's ever been.

I don't know what you do with Islam. I guess it's either Poirier or the Gaethje/Fiziev winner. Really don't want to put him on ice until late summer waiting for maybe, possibly, perhaps Dariush. Fiziev would be great if for nothing else than some fresh blood. As much as I like Poirier and Gaethje, I don't think either would be deserving of a title shot. Even though Islam's wrestling doesn't appear to be quite as dominant as Khabib's, I think both those fights would end up looking similar. If Islam were to f*** around on the feet too much, maybe they could catch him, but that's about it IMO.

Well said, agreed with everything here.

Only thing I'll add is I'm good with Islam/Poirer next if Oliveira/Dariush stays booked. At least Poirer is coming off a big win and he has the resume. Plus everyone else is booked.

 

[CDJ]

Shockingly smart take from Vettori

 

[Avs_19]

Islam vs. Dariush and Volk vs. Yair would both be excellent fights. Maybe the most competitive in both divisions too. Just put them on the same card again.

Love Poirier but I think he's getting taken down and beaten with ease if he gets the next shot.

 

[Neutrinos]

I'd have to re-watch the 4th rd again to score it accurately, but Volkanovski did all the damage while Islam had his back in a bodylock against the fence

That may have actually been Volk's best moment in the fight

So, Islam 1, 2, 3, with 4 and 5 going to Volk

 

[CDJ]

I don’t really consider those shots Volk was landing in round 4 “damage” and Islam was trying for a choke most of the time. I have no problem with that round going to Islam using the modern criteria

 

[MMC]

 

[Neutrinos]

I don’t really consider those shots Volk was landing in round 4 “damage” and Islam was trying for a choke most of the time. I have no problem with that round going to Islam using the modern criteria

Would you rather have your opponent unsuccessfully "trying for a choke", or repeatedly punching you in the face?

Maintaining a dominant position shouldn't count for much when you're getting beat up while holding it