UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is gearing up for what he believes is a serious challenge in Yair Rodriguez.
Volkanovski (25-2 MMA) is set to face interim champion Rodriguez (15-3 MMA) in a title unification bout at UFC 290 on July 8th in Las Vegas. Volk last fought back in February when he challenged Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title and despite not getting the win, it was an impressive outing for ‘The Great’ nonetheless, whose performance was enough to retain his pound-for-pound number-one spot until the return of Jon Jones shortly after.
However, ‘El Pantera’ poses a formidable challenge, entering the fight at the peak of his career. Having captured the interim title with a devastatingly clinical performance against Josh Emmett, Volkanovski is well aware of the threat facing him.
Alexander Volkanovski on the Danger of Facing Yair Rodriguez
“I’m looking at him as a real challenger, like he’s a dangerous fighter,” Volkanovski told The MacLife.
“He could be one of the most dangerous fighters I’ve fought really. When you talk about unpredictability and knockout power, and so many different tools, you need to take him really serious. I think I’m the best fighter in the world, so am I confident? Yeah, but I know not to take this guy lightly. He’s been dominating and looking good in his last few fights.”
Yair showcased his evolution as a fighter as he put Emmett to the sword with vicious body kicks & secured a second-round victory via triangle choke at UFC 284.
“He was very good with his flashy stuff, but that’s all he sort of cared about,” Volkanovski said. Now he looks like he’s a lot more comfortable at all ranges. He looks very unpredictable, when you’re pressuring him at a long-range, no matter where it is, he can fire all different things from all different angles. That’s always a big threat, so it’s good. That’s when the master game planning and the fight IQ and all that type of stuff needs to come in, and (I’m) looking forward to it because, again, that excites me.”
The Landscape of the Featherweight Division
Volkanovski goes into the bout undefeated at 145lbs across his entire career, boasting a 12-0 record in the division since joining the UFC. A victory against a tricky & dynamic opponent in Yair only further pushes Alex towards cementing himself as the greatest featherweight of all time in the eyes of many. It might also leave many wondering what’s left for him to conquer at featherweight. A rematch for the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev would surely be on the cards.
A victory for Yair Rodriguez on the other hand does the opposite. It opens up an array of fresh matchups in the division, barring a likely rematch with the dominant Aussie champion. Notably, it offers Max Holloway a clearer path back to the title with a rematch with Yair more appealing to many than a fourth bout with Volkanovski. Yair also has the chance to become the UFC’s third Mexican-born undisputed champ, joining champions Brandon Moreno and Alexa Grasso.
Volkanovski has continuously urged the division to step up and create some excitement and he’s got his wish. Yair has delivered on the champs call to action.
Do you believe Yair Rodriguez is a threat to Alexander Volkanovski and his featherweight title? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
