After an impressive streak of 14 UFC fights without a finish, former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is now dealing with consecutive knockout losses.
This recent downturn has led to some criticism from fans regarding Volkanovski`s statements about his mental state.
Despite these setbacks, `The Great` remains confident in his abilities and aims to prove he`s still among the best at UFC 314, where he will compete against Diego Lopes for the vacant title.
Experiencing a knockout loss can undoubtedly affect a fighter`s confidence, and Volkanovski has acknowledged that planning his return to the octagon was challenging.
A significant point of discussion from his recent fight, believed to be crucial for both his upcoming April 12th bout and his future career, is the impact of taking the Topuria fight.
Volkanovski Acknowledges Impact of Quick Turnaround at UFC 298
Alexander Volkanovski`s recent fight record doesn`t fully reflect the circumstances surrounding his losses.
He stepped in on short notice for a rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, where he suffered a first-round knockout.
Despite concerns from fans, fellow fighters, and his team, Volkanovski proceeded with his featherweight title defense just months later.
While Ilia Topuria`s victory at UFC 298 was decisive, questions arose about whether the champion`s quick return after a knockout loss affected his performance.
Volkanovski`s supporters hope that after a significant period of rest, he will return to his peak form when he faces Diego Lopes in Miami.
In a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson on The MightyCast, Volkanovski discussed how the quick turnaround impacted him, even though he felt completely prepared at the time.
“I always said I wouldn`t hold up divisions. Many thought I was crazy to fight Ilia Topuria just three months later, but I was determined. I felt ready to get back in there, seeing it as my job and responsibility. I dismissed concerns about coming off a knockout affecting my confidence,” Volkanovski stated.
“I didn`t believe any of it. You couldn`t have convinced me otherwise. It wasn`t until I was actually in the cage that I started to feel like maybe there was something to those concerns.”
Volkanovski hinted that the impact of the quick turnaround was subtly present even during his training camp.
Post-fight analysis suggested Volkanovski`s tendency to back away during exchanges with Topuria made him vulnerable to the knockout blow, possibly indicating what `The Great` was alluding to, though not explicitly confirmed.
“Looking back, I noticed some of that cautiousness even in training, but I wouldn’t have acknowledged it then. But I won’t go into detail,” he added.
Volkanovski Needs to Overcome Losses by UFC 314
While the short turnaround was a major topic after UFC 298, the real question is how Alexander Volkanovski will recover from two consecutive knockout defeats.
Taking extended time off was a wise decision, and it seems Volkanovski utilized this period to mentally and physically recover from the pressures of training and fighting.
Diego Lopes, his upcoming opponent, is known for his high confidence, making him a formidable challenge.
Volkanovski has previously overcome aggressive and powerful fighters, but the key question is whether he can replicate that success at this stage of his career.
If he can put these losses behind him and return to the form that saw him defeat Yair Rodriguez in his last featherweight title defense, he will undoubtedly be the favorite on April 12.
