Despite Losses, Alexander Volkanovski and Kamaru Usman Gains Jake Paul’s Respect

Combat sports witnessed an eventful night at UFC 294 for Abu Dhabi as a few blockbuster matches played out in front of an enthralling crowd. In an intriguing turn of events, two abled fighters undertook fights at very short notice and made a fine imprint on the masses. After Charles Oliveira pulled out of his fight against Islam Makhachev citing an injury, Alexander Volkanovski stepped in to deliver a nail-biting showdown. On the other hand, Kamaru Usman stepped in place of Paulo Costa to fight Khamzat Chimaev with just 10 days of notice.

Despite both struggling to mark their victories on fight night, the sheer gumption to step in at the last moment has the combat realm talking. In their second time against each other, Makhachev retained his reign as the lightweight champion through a knockout. In a similar fashion, Chimaev defeated Usman through a decision. Both fights churning out some major tension on fight night have had influencer-boxing sensation, Jake Paul in total awe.

Jake Paul sends his adoration toward Volk and Usman

Both ‘Volk’ and Usman saved the day for Dana White when they agreed to step into the Octagon at a notice of a mere week or two. However, their effort in letting the sport go unhindered put nicks on their fighting record. Both failed to emerge victorious. But they deserve due respect and compensation just for the enthusiasm they showed. So echoes, Jake Paul. ‘The Problem Child’ said, “Usman and Volk saved the event and took L’s. Hopefully UFC paid them double for saving the entire event.”

Further, he also expressed his respect for the two fighters and many others who step in at very little notice to just keep the sport going. He posted, “Respect to all fighters who take fights on two weeks notice.” But at the end came his adoration for Islam Makhachev who came through a massive and resounding victory.

There comes a moment in the combat world when wins and losses take a backseat but the sheer spirit of competition takes precedence. Aligning with this spirit were both Volk and Usman last night. Right from the opening round, Volk struggled to establish his presence in the game and went down via a knockout in the initial stages of the fight. Similar was the fate of Usman. The fighter did exhibit his signature, record-breaking defense skills, but it came up short in usurping Chimaev with any meaningful offense. The judges gave a decision in the latter’s favor to crown the victor.

Jake Paul had outlined his plans to headline an MMA fight in the near future as he looks to make his mark there after establishing his prowess in boxing.

Will The Problem Child headline an MMA fight soon?

In the early days of August, Jake Paul proved his mettle against former UFC-fame, Nate Diaz through an impressive knockout victory. As the fight saw its closure, the fighter showed his interest in the same opponent, but in a format much in favor of Diaz. The Stockton-origin fighter rose to notoriety after showcasing his skills and charisma for more than a decade in the UFC.

Also Read: Shaquille O’Neal Hypes Up Nate Diaz’s Rematch Offer To Jake Paul

With having lost his first boxing stint in a devastating fashion, one would hope that he would readily agree to an MMA-style matchup that would give him an upper hand. Moreover, an offer of a staggering $10 million as a sweetener came along with it. However, he has shown hardly any interest in the fight but his yearning to re-fight Paul remains. Recently, as the latter announced his next for the 15th of December without revealing the opponent’s name, Diaz threw his name around as a possible opponent. The question remains if his Instagram post is an announcement or more of a plea.

What do you think of the current ongoings in the MMA realm? Let us know in the comments section below.

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