After his loss to Islam Makhachev just a month ago, Alexander Volkanovski is already set to face another fight against Ilia Topuria in January 2021. Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling believes this quick turnaround could lead to an unfavorable result for Volkanovski.
The bout between Volkanovski and Makhachev allowed the latter to be crowned as the new king of men’s pound-for-pound in UFC’s ranking. However, the effect of the bout that ended with a first-round knockout win for Makhachev still has its impact on Volkanovski, who’s already set to fight in January. Sterling, who’s not a stranger to a knockout loss, has some words for the Australian, who is entering the cage again from a quick turnaround.
“If he does make the walk for February, the way it sits right now, I do think we’re going to see an upset,” Sterling shared on his YouTube channel. “I hate to say it because it makes it seem like I’m going against Volkanovski, I’m doubting Volkanovski, but I’m not. What I’m saying is given the situation, I think now is the time for a hard-hitter, boxer who can actually grapple but just doesn’t grapple in Topuria, to get a guy like Volkanovski.”
In line with this concern, Sterling explained how it would benefit Topuria, pushing him to believe that, given the situation, the Georgian-Spanish now has more chances to dominate in the bout.
“He puts together better punching combinations. Volkanovski’s more pot shot here, here, here, and it’s like an accumulative damage that he does and then eventually he finds the finishing touches. But Topuria, when he hits you, he puts everything into those punches, into those body shots. I think if Volkanovski’s not the sharpest that he can be, which would have been before taking that Islam fight … but now I’m liking Topuria’s chances, and I have to lean on the side of the contender in this one.”
