Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) prior to the fight against Yair Rodriguez (blue gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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“I Don’t Think It’s The Same Volk”- Henry Cejudo Gives His Take On Alexander Volkanovski Post-Islam Makhachev

Henry Cejudo does not think Alexander Volkanovski can hold up against Diego Lopes after Islam Makhachev fight KO!

The fight game can be brutal. It builds legends and breaks spirits. Few know this better than Alexander Volkanovski. The Australian featherweight dominated his division for years. His technical brilliance and cardio made him nearly unbeatable at 145 pounds. But recent setbacks have raised questions about his future. Is the once-dominant champion still the same fighter?

MMA careers often follow a similar arc – the rise, the peak, and the inevitable decline. Fans have seen it with Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and countless others. ‘Father Time’ remains undefeated in combat sports. Now at 36, Volkanovski faces a critical moment in his storied career. After going 17-1 as a featherweight and collecting multiple title defenses, he is suddenly 1-3 in his last four fights, with two of those losses coming by knockout.

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The Knockout Losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria That Changed Alexander Volkanovski

Volkanovski’s recent troubles began when he moved up to challenge Islam Makhachev at lightweight. While their first meeting ended in a controversial decision, their rematch left no doubt. Makhachev knocked him out cold with a head kick. The image of Volkanovski face-down on the canvas shocked fans worldwide. Then came the Ilia Topuria fight. The young Spanish-Georgian fighter did what seemed impossible. He knocked out the seemingly indestructible Volkanovski to claim the featherweight crown.

All Ilia Topuria career KO's 🔥

THREAD 🧵

01. Ends Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight reign 💥pic.twitter.com/JAqHetssdH
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) October 21, 2024

Islam Makhachev head kicks Alexander Volkanovski

What an unbelievable KO, Volk has never been KO’d in the UFC and Islam not known for his kicking, shocks everyone with an incredible headkick.

Islam then follows up with some brutal hammer fists. pic.twitter.com/WQCC5zZB1B
— Bry The MMA Guy (@BryTheMMAguy) December 20, 2023

These back-to-back KO losses weren’t just defeats. They were the kind that change fighters forever. Getting knocked out alters something fundamental in a fighter’s approach. Some become gun-shy. Others lose their durability. The chin, as they say in fighting circles, has an expiration date. And once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back.

Henry Cejudo’s Bold Prediction For UFC 314

Henry Cejudo isn’t just any observer. The Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC champion knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. His assessment of Volkanovski pulls no punches.

“I don’t think it’s the same Volk. I personally think Diego Lopes is gonna beat him, I really do. But if Volkanovski does get it done, he gets it done. It’s not Ilia Topuria that he’s going to [have to] beat,” Cejudo said in an interview with The Schmo.

Cejudo’s reasoning is straightforward. Volkanovski has taken serious damage in recent fights. Three losses in a short span, with two coming by knockout, take a toll. Cejudo believes Lopes has the style to exploit a potentially diminished Volkanovski. He also pointed to Lopes’ submission skills as another potential path to victory.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314. A victory would cement his legacy and silence doubters. A loss, especially another finish, might signal the end of his time at the top. Whatever happens, the featherweight division is watching closely. The changing of the guard may already be underway, but champions like Volkanovski rarely go quietly. Next Saturday in Miami, fans will see if the old Volk is still in there somewhere, or if Cejudo’s prediction proves prophetic!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alexander Volkanovksi

Diego Lopes

Henry Cejudo

Islam Makhachev

UFC 314

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!