UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria

The official Tapology discussion thread for the event!

@tepid55 

Well I think it was kinda obvious that he‘s gonna get knocked out by Topuria because he returned way too early after the Islam KO. Don‘t get me wrong, I don‘t wanna take anything away from Ilia, but strategically that wasn‘t a smart decision by Volk and his team. You can recover your chin to a certain point by taking time off and he didn‘t do that and even more so should do it now. Of course he can get knocked out again but that‘s the sport and the risk you carry every single time you step into the cage. It‘s always been.

The whole point I‘m trying to make here is, people went from putting Volk into the goat conversation to talking about him like about Tony Ferguson within only four months and I think that does not do him justice.

* Edited at 02.19.2024, 4:42 PM ET *

@GoatChael 

I was telling people that Volk has never actually KO'd someone in the UFC. Just TKO's. Ilia has but he's even done it at lightweight.

I believe Volk and his team did a great job preparing for Topuria and Volk looked amazing going into the fight. Most people scored the first round 10-9 for Volk. I honestly don't feel like the Makhachev head kick knockout affected Volk during his camp and during this fight. Volk was 100% ready for this fight and he wouldn't have fought to defend the belt if he wasn't feeling ready for it. 

However, anyone getting hit with the powerful right hook of Topuria would get knocked out just the same. It was an impressive perfect shot that was destined. If Volk continues down this road of staying active, there will be a high risk of more losses on his record. He is no longer the invincible Volk that dominated the division for years. Volk needs to take a step back and feel accomplished with everything he has achieved during his career and accept the passing of the torch to Topuria. A perfect ending for the great one. 

We do not want to see Volk to become the next Cejudo, where you become painful to watch and irrelevant. 

Therefore, Volk please retire for the sake of your family, health and reputation.

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-298-weight-gains-california-state-athletic-commission?itm_source=parsely-api

What a fall from grace for Volk, one of the best to ever fight at 145, a great champion who gave us great fights, but I've been thinking and his chin will not recovered, those were two vicious knockouts in a row. He wants a rematch, he's not ready to sit back and rethink his career, he has to. 

@Vandal