The positions of Alexander Volkanovski, also known as Alex Volkanovski, and Islam Makhachev in the most recent UFC pound-for-pound rankings have been discussed by Daniel Cormier. Currently, Volkanovski is ranked first in the men’s pound-for-pound list according to the UFC, while Makhachev is ranked second.
In light of that, Cormier outlined the reasons why Volkanovski, despite losing to Makhachev, who is currently ranked No. 2, is still ranked No. 1 on the pound-for-pound list. UFC lightweight champion Makhachev challenged UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski for the lightweight championship at the UFC 284 event on February 12.
Makhachev won the lightweight championship fight they engaged in a unanimous decision. Many felt that Volkanovski, in the hotly contested battle, was more deserved of the judges’ decision.
In the most recent episode of the DC & RC podcast on ESPN MMA, MMA superstar and former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier noted that, according to the judges’ official decision, Alexander Volkanovski was defeated by Islam Makhachev at UFC 284.
However, according to “DC,” Alex Volkanovski moved up to a higher weight class and shown that his fighting abilities are transferable across weight classes. In his explanation of why Volkanovski kept his No. 1 ranking pound-for-pound ranking despite the defeat against Islam Makhachev, Cormier said:
After the bout, I also said on SportsCenter, “Hey, there’s a scenario in which Volkanovski could still be the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world at the conclusion of this.
Because the question “Does your fighting style translate between weight classes?” is asked by pound-for-pound. On Saturday, it was demonstrated that Volkanovski’s fighting style does translate across weight classes. Today’s standings are updated. And who is still in first place, pound for pound? Alexander Volkanovski, notwithstanding his defeat.
Alex Volkanovski believes Islam Makhachev didn’t do enough to take his UFC pound-for-pound throne
The newly-crowned interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez could be Alex Volkanovski’s next opponent if he decides to return to his weight division. A Volkanovski-Rodriguez showdown has not yet been formally announced, though. Additionally, Volkanovski has said he would prefer a rematch right away against Islam Makhachev.
Alex Volkanovski made fun of Islam Makhachev during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, saying that Makhachev hadn’t done enough to unseat him as the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. In addition, Volkanovski said he would defeat Makhachev at any weight and would knock him out if he were a featherweight. “The Great” remarked:
“Again, I don’t want to be that man pound-for-pound, but you know, I still think I proven that I’m the superior fighter and I’m pound-for-pound number-one, but that’s not up to me,” he said. [2:39:29 – 2:39:41]
