Read about Alexander Volkanovski’s back-to-back losses in the UFC and his desire for a rematch. Despite his recent defeats, Volkanovski’s reign as the featherweight champion has been impressive.
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| UFC 98 | Loss by knockout (Ilia Topuria) |
| UFC 294 | Loss by knockout (Islam Makhachev) |
Alexander Volkanovski’s Unfortunate Defeat
In a shocking turn of events, Alexander Volkanovski, a seasoned mixed martial artist, experienced consecutive losses for the first time in his 12-year career. The latest defeat came at the hands of Ilia Topuria, an undefeated fighter, who knocked Volkanovski out in the second round of the UFC 98 main event. This setback follows Volkanovski’s previous knockout loss just four months ago.
Stepping in on Short Notice
Last October, the highly anticipated UFC 294 main event between lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and former titleholder Charles Oliveira fell through. Volkanovski, always ready to step up, took the opportunity to rematch Makhachev on just 11 days’ notice. Their first encounter ended in a split decision, but this time, Makhachev secured a first-round knockout victory.
Reign as Featherweight Champion
Volkanovski had an impressive reign as the 145-pound featherweight champion, successfully defending his title five times since December 2019. Despite his recent losses, Volkanovski firmly believes that his accomplishments in the division warrant an immediate rematch with ‘El Matador.’ During the UFC 298 Post-Fight Press Conference, Volkanovski expressed his desire for a rematch, stating, ‘I’ve been a champ for a long time, and I want that rematch. I think I deserve it after all I’ve done for the company.’
No Excuses, Only Congratulations
Although disappointed with the outcome, Volkanovski showed sportsmanship by congratulating Ilia Topuria on his victory. Reflecting on the fight, Volkanovski acknowledged Topuria’s speed and power, admitting that they had anticipated these qualities. He accepted responsibility for being caught on the cage and commended Topuria’s performance, concluding with a sincere ‘congrats to him.’
| Event | Result |
|---|---|
| UFC 98 | Loss by knockout (Ilia Topuria) |
| UFC 294 | Loss by knockout (Islam Makhachev) |
