Henry Cejudo Predicts Ilia Topuria’s Dominance Over Alexander Volkanovski, Citing Risky Style
Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo is confident that Ilia Topuria has what it takes to not only defeat Alexander Volkanovski but to dominate him in their upcoming bout. While Volkanovski is an established featherweight champion with five title defenses and a reputation as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters, Cejudo believes that Topuria’s well-rounded skills and ability to defend against leg kicks could be the key to victory.
Cejudo expressed his support for Topuria on his YouTube channel, acknowledging the challenges that come with facing a fighter of Volkanovski’s caliber. He highlighted Topuria’s potential path to victory, emphasizing the importance of protecting against leg kicks and utilizing his Georgian wrestling background in the fight.
“If he could protect his leg kicks, and if he can bring back some of that Georgian wrestling into this fight, I could see Ilia Topuria not only just beating him but actually dominating in this fight,” Cejudo stated.
While Cejudo praised Volkanovski’s game-planning skills and well-rounded abilities, he also pointed out the champion’s tendency to take risks that could ultimately lead to his downfall. Cejudo mentioned Volkanovski’s fight against Brian Ortega, where he found himself in a guillotine choke and returned to a similar situation, as an example of Volkanovski’s willingness to “play with fire.”
Cejudo also referred to Volkanovski’s encounter with Islam Makhachev, during which he struggled to escape from a dominant position. He suggested that Volkanovski’s affinity for risky situations might eventually result in a loss, possibly due to a submission or knockout.
As the anticipation builds for the showdown between Topuria and Volkanovski, Cejudo’s prediction adds another layer of excitement to the matchup. Fight fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome to see if Topuria can live up to the expectations set by Cejudo and potentially become the new featherweight champion.
Joe Rogan Disagrees with UFC Rankings, Calls Alexander Volkanovski Pound-for-Pound King
Joe Rogan, the renowned UFC commentator and podcast host, has weighed in on the debate over who holds the title of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. While the UFC has its official rankings, Rogan has his own take on the matter, and his choice might surprise some fans.
Despite the official UFC rankings not listing him as the pound-for-pound best, Rogan believes that Alexander Volkanovski deserves that title. Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, has an impressive record of 25 wins and 2 losses in MMA, with his only recent defeat coming at the hands of current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Rogan’s argument for Volkanovski’s claim to the pound-for-pound throne revolves around the belief that he actually won his fight against Makhachev, despite the official result. In a recent episode of his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Rogan expressed his viewpoint.
“He’s No. 1 pound-for-pound. They have him as not pound-for-pound (No. 1 in the UFC) because he lost that fight (to Islam Makhachev),” Rogan explained. “I think you could make a real argument that he won that fight. I think he won the fight. In my mind, he won the fight.”
Rogan pointed out that Volkanovski inflicted more damage and showcased his skill set effectively during the fight. He also praised Volkanovski’s ability to move up in weight to fight Makhachev, who is a massive lightweight. According to Rogan, Volkanovski’s performance was impressive, and he emphasized the moments where Volkanovski dropped Makhachev, got on top, and delivered significant damage.
Rogan also noted that the fight exposed vulnerabilities in Makhachev’s game, challenging the perception that he was unstoppable. Despite giving up takedowns and facing early adversity, Volkanovski’s resilience and performance left a lasting impression on Rogan.
While the debate over the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world may continue among fans and experts, Rogan’s endorsement of Alexander Volkanovski as his choice for the title adds an interesting perspective to the discussion. As the world of MMA evolves, rankings and opinions on fighters’ skills will continue to evolve as well.
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