UFC’s Volkanovski predicts ‘easy’ win for Holloway over Topuria

Alexander Volkanovski is the one fighter to ever share the cage with each Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway, giving him distinctive perception on the looming matchup between UFC champ and BMF champ.

Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) owns three victories on his resume towards Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) throughout his stint as UFC featherweight titleholder, whereas his lone encounter with Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) led to the top of his reign as champ, courtesy of a second-round knockout at UFC 298 in February.

Though Volkanovski anticipated an instantaneous rematch with Topuria after dropping the belt, it seems Holloway has overtaken his high contender spot after claiming the BMF strap with an all-time knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in April. Even with Topuria doing a little posturing over the thought of preventing Holloway, there are stable odds it’ll finally come collectively this 12 months.

Widespread opponent Volkanovski isn’t thrilled about that concept, primarily as a result of he thinks Holloway will win and thus diminish the stakes of a future rematch with Topuria.

“I imagine Max can go on the market and make that struggle look straightforward,” Volkanovski advised FOX Sports activities Australia. “Topuria could be very harmful, an ideal fighter, however I don’t assume he’s pretty much as good as he thinks he’s. And, after all, he caught me, proper? So I can’t actually say a lot.

“I want to indicate everybody. I do know I can do it, too. And I’m additionally fairly assured Max can too, which is why I didn’t need him preventing Topuria earlier than I did.”

Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan just lately claimed on an episode of the “JRE MMA Present” with Holloway as his visitor that he heard Topuria declined a rematch supply towards Volkanovski at UFC 305 in Perth on Aug. 18.

Volkanovski mentioned the UFC didn’t contact him concerning the matchup, however he’s “not stunned” Topuria wasn’t eager. He expects to see Topuria down the road, although, and has little question the consequence could be totally different.

“I do know I can do a a lot better job,” Topuria mentioned. “I didn’t struggle my struggle, and he capitalized, so credit score to him. However I do know I can go on the market and make that struggle look straightforward.”