“I see Volk going in there, using his full skill set—landing shots, mixing in takedowns, wearing Diego Lopes down, riding him for five rounds, and either winning a decision or getting him out of there late.” Robert Whittaker stated on the MMArcade podcast before UFC 314 PPV, backing fellow countryman Alexander Volkanovski to win the main event fight against a formidable Diego Lopes. And after 25 minutes, several cuts and breaking the infamous ‘over 35’ curse, the Aussie became the only man to win the undisputed 145lbs title two times.

In short, ‘The Great’ did exactly what Whittaker had mostly predicted. The veteran opened strong, used leg kicks, and landed nasty punches against the cage in the first round before taking Diego Lopes to the ground. The Aussie looked like a violent, focused force, cutting off angles, parrying shots, and moving forward with pressure that gave the Brazilian real problems early on. But the tide shifted in the second round as Lopes found his rhythm and even cracked Volkanovski with a clean right hand, dropping him hard in the dying seconds of the round. Still, the 36-year-old champion dug deep. He weathered the storm and found another gear. At the end, the 145lbs god-king hoisted the featherweight belt once again.

Like many fans, Robert Whittaker was captivated by Volkanovski’s performance. But even so, he didn’t shy away from pointing out a hole in his game. One that could’ve easily cost the fellow Aussie the fight. The former 185lbs champ took to the MMArcade podcast and said, “Volk did such a good job at just peppering him with that jab, keeping him at an arm’s reach and moving. He was so light on his feet. Utilizing the leg kicks. It was just to great effect, he was moving and jabbing. So, when he moved in, he started those exchanges, and I feel like the exchanges the Volk would start.”

He added, “It was his greatest strength in that fight as well as his weakness. Because every time he would clash and engage in that tight slugfest brawl. He would come over with that right hand every time he’d lead with the jab. Swim under hook and coming with the left hook, and then etc. It was working to great success. He did so much damage to Diego. Again, props to Diego’s head. He ate huge shots from Volk in those exchanges.”

“But, I will tell ya, it was much closer than the average fan saw. Because that was the only point of [Danger], well, not the only point. It was also such a fine line form disaster. You could see what Diego wanted to do. You could see wanted to engage. He wanted to uppercut him. He was throwing the shot out there, but it was like a fraction of a fraction. Second off, every time. Volk’s shots were landing. It was missing him by a hairs, every time. Like I said, it was so effective from Volk, but also the greatest hole I could see.”

Robert Whittaker hit the bull’s-eye with his analysis. After clearly winning the first round, Volkanovski became a bit too focused on landing that same combination. In doing so, he left openings in his defense, especially leaving his chin up in the air, which led to the second-round knockdown. The danger was real, and Lopes’ durability proved that it would’ve taken astronomical power to crack that chin clean. Also, the upper cut found its way multiple times. ‘The Great,’ however, made the necessary adjustments. From the third round onward, he managed distance much better, picking his shots with more caution. That smart approach helped him seal the win.

Despite all the ongoing analysis of Volkanovski’s performance, one thing is becoming clear—he might just be the greatest featherweight of all time. He’s now a two-time champion and sits just one win away from tying Jose Aldo’s record of eight featherweight title fight victories. With one more successful defense, the Aussie could very well cement himself as the division’s GOAT. It would not only elevate his legacy but also solidify his place as a true icon of the sport. And even one of his former rivals agrees.

Yair Rodriguez names Alexander Volkanovski as the greatest featherweight ever

There’s little doubt that Alexander Volkanovski might be the consensus featherweight great. Of course, there are still valid arguments in favor of the ‘King of Rio’. But recent performances, the level of competition, and Volkanovski’s ability to bounce back have swung the conversation even more in his favor. Yair Rodriguez, who’s shared the Octagon with the two-time 145-pound champion at UFC 290, recently gave his take on the Aussie’s greatness.

According to him, Volkanovski is more motivated than ever, as the Mexican is also waiting for his turn against him. During an interview with MMA Junkie, El Pantera said, “I don’t know if that’s the case or not, but I also believe Volkanovski is one of the greatest of all time, and he has shown that. He has shown that for many years now, and I am happy to face this new Volkanovski, because he’s also been doing some changes to his diet, you know? And I think he’s motivated. He’s having a fourth kid or something like that, which, congratulations for that, and I can’t wait to face him – this new version of himself.”

Do you agree with Robert Whittaker’s analysis about Volkanovski’s UFC 314 outing? And has he topped Jose Aldo in terms of featherweight greatness? Let us know in the comment section below!