Alexander Volkanovski says Diego Lopes has only the one chaotically “dangerous” chance of beating him in Sunday’s UFC 325 blockbuster — while also accusing the Brazilian of fighting with “no thought, no strategy” behind it.
The declaration comes as fellow UFC favourite Dan Hooker has not only backed Volkanovski to retain his UFC featherweight title inside Qudos Bank Arena this weekend, but vowed to be “12 beers deep” when it happens, despite appearing himself just one bout earlier.
UFC 325: Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 | SUN 1 FEB 1PM AEDT | For the first time in his storied career, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will defend his championship in his home city of Sydney, in a rematch with Brazil’s Diego Lopes. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
Classic Dan Hooker SOUNDS OFF on BSD | 05:03
On the eve of what shapes as Volkanovski’s second UFC title reign, Main Event’s Niko Pajarillo hosted a unique fight week Roundtable with the 37-year-old champ, Hooker and cult UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa.
In a weird twist for Australia’s No.1 MMA fighter, Sunday’s main event comes just nine months after he beat Lopes in their first title fight, earning a comprehensive decision win at UFC 314 in Miami.
While Volkanovski has not fought since, Lopes went and punched his way back into championship contention by besting countryman Jean Silva – courtesy of a brutal spinning back elbow – in September.
Quizzed on the danger Lopes presents in the rematch, Volkanovski talked up the Brazilian’s undeniably fearless striking prowess.
“He’s dangerous,” the champ started.
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“He’s got power in his hands [so] you need to be on the ball, need to be disciplined everywhere.
“Even if it goes to the ground, you have to be really disciplined knowing he is going to throw submissions up.
“On the feet too, knowing even when you land the biggest overhand of your life he’s throwing an uppercut. He literally sees a punch coming and doesn’t think ‘oh, a punch is coming’
“He looks ‘oh, there is the head’ — and fires it.
“There were that many times [in the first fight, where] I was already going and he didn’t care about it one bit.
“It was ‘I’ve got a target to focus on’, that’s it.”
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Volkanovski also spoke about how, after the first fight, Lopes was widely criticised for his inability to cut off the cage.
“The footwork was crucial in that fight and it will be crucial here,” he continued.
“We know he’s powerful.
“Know he wants to be in front of you and throw bombs.
“And he’s going to say he wants to change this, change that, [but] I don’t know how much he can really change.
“I think he will be a little bit better at cutting off, but that opens doors for me
“I can’t wait to light that place up.”
And as for Volkanovski’s thoughts about the most recent Lopes win?
“I don’t think he showed much more,” he said.
“He was saying ‘I’ve changed my game so much’.
“And even after the fight looked as if ‘look, I’ve showed how much I’ve changed’.
“But I didn’t see anything different.
“Not at all.
“Might’ve been a couple of things but to be honest, I thought there was no thought behind it, no strategy behind it.”
Pushed on what changes he alterations he must at least prepare for from the challenger, Volk continued: “We look at it as ‘what would we do?’
“[We think] he should be doing do this, this, this, and be ready for that
“But is he going to do that? I don’t know how capable he is.”
Volkanovski later continued: “I think he’s gunna have a game plan but I make that even worse for him and he goes back to waiting for them big shots.
“Which is where he is going to be dangerous and makes it an exciting fight.
“But if he wants to be that aggressive, I want to crack that chin.”
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When quizzed on what Lopes would do differently in this fight, Hooker – who fights Benoit St Denis in the co-main — interrupted with a cackle: “How long ago was that last fight? You can’t do nothing different.
“He’s going to get better at cutting off? You close one door, another opens.
“That’s how cutting people off works.
“To add new feathers in your cap in that amount of time, with only one fight, there is no way he can add new things.
“The same thing is going to happen.
“The belt is stayin’ here in Australia with Volk, and I can’t wait.
“I’ll be 12 beers deep by that time …”
Later, Hooker continued of Lopes: “What adjustments is he capable of making?
“Some guys are capable of switching stances, of making big drastic changes.
“Is he capable of going for a takedown? Is he capable of controlling from the top?
“Is he capable of adding footwork to his game? I don’t think so.
“Is he capable of taking you down and holding you on top? No, I don’t think he’s capable of that.”
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