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Andreas Hale
Miami – “Old Man Volk” still has it.
Alexander Volkanovski delivered vintage performances to get a feather title with a unanimous victory Diego Lopes Saturday evening at the UFC 314 main event in the center of Kaseya. The judges scored the match 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.
Volkanovski became the first fighter over 35 to win the fight for the title in the weight class below £ 170. And he did it with a show that signaled a return to a fighter form that dominated the £ 145 division from 2016 to 2023 and strengthened as a Hall of Fame Three victories MAX HOLLOWAY. A pair of knockout losses, however Islam Makhachev and Ulli tepriaria If people were asking if his best years were behind him.
Instead, Volkanovski presented a vintage performance, although the one who tested his confidence when he had to be pulled out of the screen after being dropped in the second round. Instead of folding, Volkanovski calmed down and took advantage of the movement and a precise blow to return a sharp challenge in Lopes.
This opportunity arose for Volkanovski to get back the feather title when Topria decided to relax and move lightly. Although a fighter from the new South Wales, Australia, lost a knockout, his body has earned his opportunity.
Volkanovski won an early impact exchange against Lopes and planted his left hand that threw his opponent’s knees in the first and landing on his right hand.
Just as it seemed that the fight in the second round escaped from Lopes, he laid Volkanovski’s right hand into the temple. But Volkanovski measted the storm and returned to the horse, although he was careful about Lopes’ right hand, which proved to be a dangerous weapon.
Volkanovski refused to fold under the growing pressure of Lopes and covered while firing over the next 15 minutes. Lopes would sometimes get him into the exchanges, but Volkanovski was wise to the plan and pulled out of the fire before he was burned.
