What went wrong for Volkanovski against Topuria?

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[@rubbaevs]

Volk looked like prey the whole fight. Even if he landed a few jabs and kicks he looked very uncomfortable in there getting stalked by Ilia

[@offthepageontoscreen5767]

Exactly

[@daryontube]

Right! He was on defense and off balance at all times, with Ilia controlling the center of the octagon. It might be a close fight in score, but the control was one sided in favor of Ilia. 🔥🔥🔥🇪🇸🇬🇪💪

[@asharpbrotha4324]

Nahhh fr that's how I felt watching it like volk looked a little off and illia just looked composed the entire time! Not gonna lie watching how volks body language was compared to illias I had a feeling volk was gonna get caught

[@kennyhardcore2755]

Best comment up here don't look no further

[@lll-qr4yu]

People, including you Dan, don’t give Ilia his credit. Volk looked good, sharp and fast. He did his best. Guy did not stop moving, threw jabs, kicks nonstop, while not staying stationary. Ilia was just cutting him and pressuring too good. He blocks shots well and has the ability to still move forward. It is impossible not to get at the fence at some point of the fight while your opponent presses you like that. And Illia’s accuracy is almost perfect, he does not waste his shots…

[@felix-bk7ne]

Volk looked a step off his best for sure. Still credit to Ilia, however look at the last fight vs Holloway. The jab faking and movement was on another level.

[@MrRazmut]

Dan said what Ilia did was beautiful right at about 2 minutes in, cmon man

[@ImagoofybaII]

People don't realize that Ilia being the same height as Volk is probably why he looked "off", Volk hasn't fought a short opponent in 5 years

[@bumetyanuba4231]

​@@felix-bk7nebro Ilia and max are two completely different styles. What are you on about

[@civilwarwasaninsidejob7405]

​@@felix-bk7neMax doesn't have the takedown threat nor the knockout power or Illia. How are those fight styles comparable?

[@stephenstuckey]

He ran into a killer named Ilia is what went wrong.

[@thebiglebrowski3695]

5 years ago he would have chewed that killer up and spat him out. Father Time is what happened. It doesn't matter how great you are, age catches up to everyone. Especially after that huge headkick KO. Ilia was the better fighter on the night, and he deserves his props, I take nothing away from him. He has a long way to go before he matches prime Volk, though.

[@stayfrostyfrosty]

The result would be the same if volk faught illia in his prime because Illia is different animal.

[@gintonic6898]

@@thebiglebrowski3695 The fact is Volk doesn’t have good boxing defense, at least not good enough for Topuria. No version of Volk would be able to defend against that. Check out how Ilia rolls with punches, uses shoulder roll, etc. It’s on another level.

[@blakehoule6698]

@@thebiglebrowski3695Volk ran into someone who has the footwork and hand speed that can counter his. Ilia’s footwork were 2nd to none that night.

[@gintonic6898]

@@blakehoule6698Exactly. He’s probably the best “cagecutter” I’ve seen.

[@thefacelessquestion3333]

That leanback thing he was doing to avoid shots had my heart in my mouth...I was screaming that a right hook is RIGHT THERE, Volk, cover up. Tragic loss for the GOAT

[@anthonyb.7340]

Hold on... GOAT? HOW DOES HE QAULIFY?

[@thefacelessquestion3333]

@@anthonyb.7340 Of that division.

[@anthonyb.7340]

@@thefacelessquestion3333 okay yea id agree on that for sure. Even as a jose fan volk has been more dominant in his run giving him the edge.

[@mra4955]

Ckb styles, they all do it, hands down

[@thefacelessquestion3333]

Volk ain't ckb

[@f0x845]

I have to say, for people to keep saying "Volk wasn't doing very well" is disingenuous. Ilia brought the thunder, and Volk was doing his thing, but Ilia had a perfect game plan for how to walk Volk down. He was just the better man that night.

[@oggyoggy1299]

Yeah he wasn’t doing very well.

[@rt0935]

​@@oggyoggy1299Laughable 😂

[@ImagoofybaII]

Lack of boxing defense in general, especially in the pocket against a shorter opponent. The last time Volk fought someone similar in height to him was in May of 2019 against Jose Aldo, almost 5 years ago. I doubt he has sparred much against shorter fighters during this time period

[@benhallo1553]

Good point

[@cobracommander9138]

Prime Volk doesn't get cornered up against the cage like that.

[@geeksworkshop]

He was coming off a big headkick KO. That really matters. He did not leave it long enough. Turns out he ruined his own legacy with fighting up a weight. No telling how more title defences he could have racked up

[@pablogamberomasson-qg2px]

Do you think he wouldn't have lost if he hadn't been ko'd against Islam?

[@mattscare5328]

I highly doubt that A longer layoff would have changed The outcome of that devastating punch.

[@lll-qr4yu]

I am tired of listening to this shit. Give Ilia his credit. He is a monster.

[@geeksworkshop]

@@lll-qr4yu No doubt about that. but a KO doesn't just disappear with the pain and bruises

[@geeksworkshop]

@@pablogamberomasson-qg2px I think it changes things a lot. He spent so much effort and energy fighting the wrong division and we have a limited amount of energy.

[@MrRaErickson]

Ilia has some slick footwork

[@LizardWizardHTX]

when i saw ilia throw that first crazy ass combo i knew it was over

[@DavidMartinez-ve8hi]

This guy looks a big casual with that arguments.. Ilia is better ...9out of 10 times volka is loosing against Ilia. There are levels to this and Topuria showed that

[@MrRaErickson]

The way he planted before that right hand was beautiful

[@bigsteppa298]

Its simple, Volk was trying to slip Ilia's right hand instead of trying to block it. He was doing a good job UNTIL Ilia got him up against the fence. Volk couldn't slip backwards because the space wasn't there. Since he wasn't blocking with his hand he unfortunately got hit with the big right. Also, Ilia wasn't throwing combos early, he lulled Volk into a false sense of security and then struck when Volk was up against the fence.

[@ardien.535]

Volk is use to fighting taller opponents so he could get away with back up with his chin exposed like that. Mistake obviously with someone like IIia. Plus the fact that he didn’t take enough time off. Volk was a great champion…things change

[@rubengarciabri9282]

Topuria was what went wrong for him

[@sexbuffet]

and getting dropped as a baby is what went wrong for you

[@benhallo1553]

He looks comfortable walking out every fight. He was laughing in the holloway fight

[@felix-bk7ne]

Volk can definitely come back, but the same might happen again. He should give his brain ample time to heal before fighting. Same happened to Stipe, a seemingly innocuous shot turned his lights out, and he came back and ate worse in the rematches and won. Volk needs to focus on what's best for him, not just his Wallet.

[@Collerz7]

He needs a break after 2 bad knockouts. He’s already old for a 145er. The old man volk thing was fun but true. No one 35 or over has won a 155 or lower title fight. He’s a proud guy so he will keep going but I see the typical depressing fall of legends scenario going forward.

[@AB-fr2ei]

​@@Collerz7he need to take a break and then change his style

[@AznVi3tx]

If that Jai Herbert kick didn't knock Ilia out clean, Volk can't do nothing

[@Modern-Gladiator]

He gave to much respect to ilias power, Volk normally doesn’t give ground that easily

[@eligrxnd]

Volk seemed to want to collar tie when he was cornered & Ilia went to the body originally... He made the read & went to upstairs instead (I think the first time he did was the finishing shot) I assumed Volk was spamming the kicks to try & get Ilia to go southpaw in the later rounds? Happy for others to have input.. Edit: Also agree w/ people talking about the way he was backing up in straight lines, I think Rogan made a comment about Volk doing this + having his chin up

[@stillmyboy6708]

Kicks weren’t just used in the hopes of making Ilia go southpaw, if you’re always throwing body and head kicks at your opponent it keeps their rear hand (Topuria’s right) blocking so they can’t throw it as much. The kicks where you just lift your lead leg up instead of switching are always useful against a guy who you know is just gonna walk forward the whole time too.

[@cobracommander9138]

There's a reason why nobody in the UFC has won a championship fight at 35 or older to a younger man at 155 and below. It just doesn't happen. Maybe one day we might see someone be able to achieve that but for now that stat is undefeated.

[@user-fx5cd4px3k]

Luke?

[@cobracommander9138]

@@user-fx5cd4px3k Luke Rockhold? What about him?

[@CD-fn7wd]

He was a rugby player and the other guy did mma all his life. That's what went wrong

[@Collerz7]

I was 99% sure ilia would win. Volk is 35, no one 155 or below has ever won a title fight when they’re 35 or over and he got KOd recently. He looked like someone scared of being knocked out even if it was subconscious. Amazed so many picked him.

[@josepharmand6117]

It could still work out Volk's way. Ilia doesn't sound like he's in any hurry to fight. He's called out $$Conor$$ which is just never going to happen...especially at FW. And, if not at FW, why would Conor fight Ilia? But there is mooted to be a card in Spain later this year. The UFC would want Ilia on that card. And it could give Volk well over 6 months to recover.

[@kennethpowers241]

Jack Slack's opinions of this fight were great.

[@bluceree7312]

I said exactly the same thing. Volk, TAKEDOWN NOW! Oh well. I think he is like many before him, bored of wining. Who knew that even winning becomes monotonous, eh. Izzy against Strickland felt the same. McGregor. Gustafsson. etc. Then they start thinking, what kind of life am I leading; getting beat up for a living especially after having enough money! Keeps things fresh for the fans I guess.

[@casinoz8013]

Volk should retire gracefully. We don't need to see a Ferguson downfall. It's just time to let the new guys have their time in the sun. Fighting is a young mans game.

[@JorgeHernandez-yj9vu]

Good idea to do these clips

[@MehdiEsfahani]

I love Dan and his analysis, but I won't lie, Veronica in the thumbnail played a bigger role in me clicking on this video

[@vlada]

That balances out the people who don't click when they see a hipster dad on the right.😂 (I listen to the podcast so I hadn't seen what Dan looks like now)

[@StephenBrindleyOfficial]

Sick shiiirrtttt \m/

[@julianpapin9428]

What went wrong. Alex let Ilia to come too close 😅

[@FAKhan11]

Dan, winner by sick Megadeth shirt 🤘🏼

[@CapTin0bvious]

Because of internet trolls saying "hater" after any critique, actual pro fighters and analysts before making their point feel they have to qualify themselves by saying "I'm a volk fan, but..." Thanks trolls

[@SatoshiShintoMe]

Guru predicted this fight perfectly 😮

[@GabeGettinRich]

Tell Guru to predict when he’ll stand up next and that would impress me.

[@ashervirin9698]

Volk fighting reminds me of me when I’m sparring someone way better than me, just spamming lead leg kicks because I’m scared to commit and get countered

[@sexbuffet]

stop it, don't you ever compare yourself to volk ever again lol

[@chucklebutt4470]

@@sexbuffet I'm 3 years older than Volk, how do you like that comparison? Boom! lol

[@digitalacoustics5556]

These shirts. My mans is going down my playlist with every video

[@StallionFernando]

The coping and excuses people have post fight and prefight are hilarious. Volk only looked nervouse the first half of rnd 1, he looked amazing the second half and early 2nd, like the classic fast footwork and striking Volk. The thing is Tupuria didn't try to reset too often and didn't respect him and pushed right through all his tricks to get him up against the cage like hr does every opponent and unleash viscious combos. "Volk is gonna humble Ilia but (insert built in excuse as to why Volk will get KO'd)". Even if that second Islam fight never happened it wouldn't matter, Tupurias style is a perfect counter to Volks, evem before the 2nd Islam fight we'd see him get hurt and wobbled, maybe he would have held up for a couple more rounds but the outcome would have been the same. Ko or TKO win for Ilia. And if they rematch the exact same scenario will occur no matter how much time he takes off. Topuria really is the next level of MMA.

[@stuartleighton]

Dan, when are you going to wear a Motorhead t-shirt?

[@ashervirin9698]

Volks mistake was trying to beat ilia at his own game, he shouldn’t have relied so heavily on the Philly shell for his defense, ESPECIALLY not up against the cage. Should’ve tried to clinch, shoot or dip out of there like Bryce mitchell

[@stillmyboy6708]

He shoulder rolled like once or twice he definitely didn’t rely on it heavily + Volk was literally reaching for a collar tie when he got KO’d, Volk used the clinch successfully a few time before that in the fight already.

[@alperenkoksel4424]

This is so true

[@ooolol]

Ilia is good but Volk is great. It's AGE that he has run into, and time is ruthless.

[@langtryvlogme]

Bothbthe return of usman AND Volk after a Ko ptoved that Even if you are #1 P4P you are also still human and will affect uou no matter what.

[@SuperFilthiest]

Is that dan?

[@alen7648]

I thought also he should be more focused instead of playing with the old man costume.

[@family26ful]

Best ever

[@luminadoDoBronx]

As always Dan Hardy got the predictions wrong.

[@sainttrunks1982]

not really, Volk was winning that fight no problem, until he did some random stuff he never did before.. in any other fights

[@isavedharlem2079]

Dan hearty meal 😂

[@FrogivenessACiM]

Volk looked good and was winning the fight, then got caught with a clean power shot to the jaw. Personally, I think Volk should have wrestled and ground and pound

[@sainttrunks1982]

Volk got caught being dumb backing up in lines, instead of circling off, he rather wanted to counter punch O'Malley to Aljo style.

[@stillmyboy6708]

Tbf you’re always going to get pushed up against the fence at least once in a 25 minute fight, especially with Topuria’s footwork and boxing. He was reaching for a collar tie with his chin up in the air, when he got KO’d, definitely wasn’t trying to counter punch like O’mally lol.

[@paulparadoxia]

PLEASE PLEASE DAN tell mne, why does Volk have CRAIG JONES always in camp and the HICKMANS flying into Camp then NOT grapple?? Not even shoot? I'd have thought 10mins of grappling wd take some pop outta illia?

[@smooth2260]

You guys were not the only ones who were incorrect....

[@reallymakesyouthink]

Not sure toying with two weight divisions has helped him at all.

[@stevenf2225]

A year of triathlons for Volk?

[@niconicoo5661]

Lets go new georgian champp❤❤🇬🇪🇬🇪

[@UCHUJIN0]

Haven't watched you your podcast in a while tbh mate ,is this person an co host ? Not working I'm afraid

[@seanmcneil2903]

His and hers chains, how cute.

[@petedog9581]

Once Topuria backed Volk to the fence and closed the distance, he was throwing wide hooks to keep him from escaping side to side. Ilia did not even care if the shots landed. It was about controlling movement. Then, he framed Volk's head w the left and short right-hooked him into the Outback. He never saw the punch. The finish was a boxing clinic.

[@hughmurphy151]

Slightly biased but can we get a nice Metallica t shirt chief?

[@dcreaco319]

Volk did not look himself, he looked scared. He looked like a 35 year old doubting himself after a knockout.

[@dude9038]

Volk kept leaning his head back to avoid Ilia's right hand, not good striking defence at all from the supposed 'greatest 145'er to ever do it'...

[@haniigg]

lol ofcourse u guys "like most mma media" completely focus on what volk did badly and not on what topuria did great

[@gelostroyer]

One punch man 👊👊

[@Xplicid]

Volk deserves a rematch, yes. Should he? Nah. Grab 1-2 wins then fight for the title again imo.

[@BP-gm2ww]

most definitely. fight at least someone like bryce mitchell and get your confidence back

[@Akakikukaku]

As much as it hurts to say you guys are right After 6-10 months of well deserved rest and break, Volk need tune up fights or else this vicious cycle will roll on him eternally

[@thebiglebrowski3695]

He is too old for that, honestly. Even right now, he is pretty up against it. He simply doesn't have 12-18 to waste on tune-up fights. His best bet is to take a good 6-9 months rest with no fights and then take a rematch. He needs the recovery time more than he needs tune up fights. He isn't going to get any better than he is right now, he will only get worse.

[@Akakikukaku]

Hot damn father time is relentless, it's a race against time huh... To be smacked by his opponents or to decline by his own age That man took too many risks though

[@akshaypanwar4964]

volk needs to go back and have a proper rest and recovery . Get in the killer mind set , get the dog back in him back , at times when you have beaten people in your divison too easily you do get complacent and when you have got a hard hitter like ilia you can not go in that relaxed . He should come back at the end of 2024 , fight someone who will be not too easy but a good fight for him , get back in rhythm , then fight for the belt

[@okkkksir7228]

He looked scared

[@C_Pedro13]

Volk….the next Tony Ferguson

[@iliaortho]

NOTHING WENT WRONG.

[@smartwater598]

Topuria is so basic it’s just featherweight division is full of bums with no basic boxing he looks good lol

[@Hoztag3]

Trauma. Jabs will start dropping Volk

[@s0m3cunt91]

Volkanovski is another victim of too much alcohol, just like his team mate Adesanya. Imagine if Conor didn't destroy himself with Alcohol, it ruined his career.

[@Macktube]

Volk actually won the first round he landed several kicks and Emporia wasn't able to really hurt him besides one leg kick so even though his movement was unusual he was successful. You should have picked Toporia tho. He had the power and submission advantage

[@johnwane7756]

Cut the bullshit of this was not a sharp enough Volk. Ilia is simply better - If he can do that to Volk, he will flatline Makhachev as well.

[@benbray4982]

Volk looked dominant for most of his career but i feel when he got to max he was purely gane planning the 5 round fight as a main strategy and planning everything around the points and 25 minutes, not having a solid game plan, looking for a finish and having that 25 minute capability in the back pocket. Or im talking out my ass. I thought he was gonna get caugnt with the straight right, but that narrowly missed and he hit a lovely bit of tyson inspired footwork, lovely frame off the face and hit that chin... semi comprimised or not, that was a haaaard shot.

[@josephh.lalruatkima9387]

After ko from islam it be hard to gain confidence

[@georgezagr6627]

Rumour has it that the Volkster is still out and has been welcomed into the Ghost Club 👻 ♠️

[@Jimmy29li]

Veronica seems like such an awesome person and certainly knows her stuff, but just can't listen to her.

[@shelleycline3542]

Stop making excuses for Volk and just realize Illia is better. My god.

[@tallkeithtv3982]

He got knocked the fuck out thats what went wrong

[@lucignolo8333]

This gal doesn’t even know what she’s talking about haha

[@robertmaxwell2596]

I think ilia is volks kryptonite. Volk hasn’t faced this much power before and he never had amazing defense. He was always there to be hit, left hand never protecting his chin. Maybe when he was younger he could’ve taken more damage but in a 5 round fight against illia he probably at least gets dropped once or twice. That being said I think Sean is ilia's kryptonite. I think illia will have a hard time with taller opponents. Styles make fights. Volk should fight Aljo next at a higher weight class.

[@Amber_Holborn]

Nothing wrong

[@edandrews3782]

To me volks plan on paper made sense, but volk does not have the attributes to pull it off. Keeping the range long, away from boxing range, using kicks to chop at his legs and get in the way of his boxing is clever. Particularly considering ilias previous vulnerability to head kicks, but again, for someone of volks frame that plan seems idiotic. Volks legs are short enough where ilia is still in boxing range, or close enough to step into it, while volk is kicking him, which led to volk being caught multiple times, and eventually slept. And volk always leaning back with his chin up, again is something taller guys can get away with, but he was still in range the whole time. Basically if somebody like Yair was fighting ilia I'd say the same gameplay would be significantly more effective, but volk doesn't have the tools for it.

[@haydenjennings4687]

Volk was winning the fight what are you people talking about. He was about to be up 2 rounds.

[@cashglobe]

To everyone saying no one is giving Ilia his credit… they need to do the rematch and only then will we know. Adesanya came back and whooooooopppppeeeeddd Pereira 🤷‍♂️

[@averagebro413]

Go for a takedown? What you mean, Ilia would murder Volk on the mat.

[@smokeymacpot76]

he got punched in the head genius

[@irockuroll60]

How was anyone picking volk? There is no way volk was going to beat him. Ilia’s ground game is way better than volk. And, his hands are 100x’s better than volk. Volk has zero KO power so what does ilia have to fear? A calf kick?? Come on…this was easy money