UFC 314 mailbag: Alexander Volkanovski as an all-time great, Paddy Pimblett rises, and Jean Silva arrives

UFC 314 is within the books, and Alexander Volkanovski is as soon as once more the UFC featherweight champion.

Volkanovski delivered a classic efficiency towards Diego Lopes on Saturday to assert the vacant featherweight title and change into the primary particular person older than 35 to win a belt in a weight class beneath 170 kilos within the UFC.

Additionally on Saturday, Paddy Pimblett broke by to the ranks of bona fide contender by beating the brakes off of Michael Chandler, Patricio Pitbull had a forgettable UFC debut, and Jean Silva made essentially the most of his massive second. So let’s speak about all of it.

Curses

“Does Volk successful imply the 35+ curse is beginning to lose validity, or is Volk simply that particular of a fighter, or is it simply that he had a uniquely poor matchup tonight?”

Most likely some mixture of the three.

The largest purpose Volkanovski received on Saturday is that he’s an distinctive fighter. Volkanovski is without doubt one of the 10 biggest fighters to ever lace up the gloves, and Saturday was affirmation of the actual fact as a result of that wasn’t peak Volkanovski. However all of the all-time greats are in a position to choose up significant wins over high opposition even after their primes are over.

However the second greatest purpose Volkanovski received on Saturday night time is that he’s a nightmare matchup for Diego Lopes. I do know everybody loves Lopes, and he’s undeniably enjoyable, however he’s not a technical or tactical savant. Lopes wins fights by being massive and harmful and a bit wild, and that’s not an excellent fashion to fight one of many biggest tacticians and technicians in MMA historical past. When Lopes was in a position to land, he harm Volkanovski, however he’s a far cry from Ilia Topuria in the case of footwork and depth of expertise, that means Volkanovski may merely climate the storm, and Lopes shortly ran out of concepts. In the event that they fought 100 instances, Lopes solely wins a few them. He simply doesn’t have the requisite expertise.

As for the Over 35 Curse, it’s not a curse, it’s only a information level that speaks to a reality about sports activities and preventing usually: it’s a younger man’s recreation. The older you get, the slower you get, and when your competitors isn’t slowing down, that results in one inevitable conclusion. However for each stat, there’s an outlier, and Volkanovski is now the one right here. That’s a testomony to him, even when it needs to be famous that this title has an asterisk as a result of he didn’t beat the champ.

Information

“This efficiency by Volk was nice, however he nonetheless seems beatable, which he by no means did pre Islam Makhachev.

“Do you foresee him having two extra defenses to interrupt Aldo’s file with what you noticed tonight? Big fan of his so I hope he does.”

At the start, two title defenses don’t break Jose Aldo’s file. Aldo had 9 consecutive title defenses; Volkanovski has 5. He wants 4 extra defenses to get there. I really feel like it is a reality folks neglect (as a result of the UFC actively tries to erase Jose Aldo’s significance for some purpose), however he solely has 7 UFC title defenses as a result of the UFC didn’t have a featherweight division. However he was the champion of the WEC — which was owned by the identical folks because the UFC — earlier than then and has 9 title defenses. He is also the youngest champion in Zuffa historical past by this similar precept.

Anyway, my guess is that Volkanovski doesn’t get two extra title defenses, although it’s not unattainable. As talked about above, I believe Lopes was a uniquely nice matchup for Volkanovski, and whereas he fought brilliantly, he nonetheless seemed lesser than earlier than. If Topuria comes again down, I’d choose him comfortably to reclaim the belt, that means Volkanovski is just champion by the grace of Topuria, and I don’t understand how lengthy that may even final.

That being stated, Volkanovski does take pleasure in respectable matchups forward of him. It seems like Movsar Evloev will get the subsequent shot at Volkanovski, and whereas Evloev is an effective fighter, he’s not the type of offensive dynamo that makes Volkanovski’s diminished sturdiness a significant concern. And the remainder of the division is in flux, so possibly Volk sneaks in a Yair Rodriguez rematch or one thing. I’d say it’s potential.

GOAT dialogue

“Featherweight GOAT.”

Test again later this week as we are going to do a deep dive on this subject, however the reply is straightforward: Jose Aldo has 9 consecutive title defenses; Volkanovski has simply over half of that. You may suppose Volkanovski is a “higher” fighter than Aldo, however he undeniably has not completed extra as a result of only a few fighters have. If he will get two extra title defenses, we are able to begin having the dialog.

Diego Lopes

“Though Lopes misplaced, is his inventory increased than it’s ever been?”

No? I imply, his inventory remains to be lots excessive, however his inventory was increased when half the MMA fanbase thought he was about to be champion. Now we noticed Volkanovski take him to high school on Saturday, and Lopes isn’t a spring rooster. He’s 30 years previous, and there’s a complete new crop of featherweights coming. Lopes can’t relaxation on his laurels proper now.

Paddy Pimblett

“Who would you prefer to see Paddy battle subsequent? Ought to Topuria battle a high LW earlier than preventing for the title? (…would a Paddy/Topuria no.1 contender’s battle make sense?)”

Earlier than UFC 314, I used to be adamant that the winner of the Pimblett vs. Chandler battle would go on to battle Ilia Topuria, and whereas I nonetheless suppose that’s what ought to occur, I’m now uncertain it would. As a result of after Paddy’s efficiency on Saturday, it’s very potential to see him preventing for the light-weight belt someday, and if that’s the case, then the UFC in all probability desires to play for a Topuria vs. Pimblett title battle. So until Islam vacates to maneuver as much as welterweight, that battle is getting held up. Which is a disgrace as a result of if I had the pen, that’s the battle I’m making subsequent.

But when that’s off the desk, I’d prefer to see Pimblett tackle Charles Oliveira. It’s no secret that I don’t suppose a lot of Michael Chandler, however the way in which Pimblett demolished him made me a believer in “The Paddy” as a authentic title contender. Nearly as good as Charles Oliveira is, he didn’t run over Chandler like that of their rematch, and I’m now genuinely to see Paddy tackle Oliveira. Just a few years in the past, I’d have stated that will be a sanctioned homicide, however now I’m not almost so positive.

Paddy vs. Ilia

“Am I loopy to suppose that Paddy’s measurement offers Ilia issues? Clearly I nonetheless would favor Ilia in the event that they fought however Paddy manhandled Chandler who, although having the battle iq of a brick, nonetheless seems like he’s constructed out of them.”

By no means. Once more, like with the Oliveira battle, a couple of years in the past I used to be sure that was an execution. Now, Pimblett can undoubtedly win that battle. Topuria wasn’t an particularly massive featherweight, and whereas the world has collectively determined that measurement doesn’t matter and he ought to battle for the light-weight title, I’m right here to let you know that’s not true. Dimension isn’t the one factor that issues nevertheless it’s rattling useful in a fist battle and Paddy shall be large in comparison with Topuria. Sure, Topuria is an elite fighter, however Pimblett has change into one himself. I’d nonetheless choose Topuria, however that’s instantly a matchup I’m very occupied with.

Patricio Pitbull

“Does Patricio shedding to Yair within the unanimous manner he did show that the gulf in high quality from PFL/Bellator to the UFC is bigger than anticipated or was it simply too late for him to make the transfer?”

It was simply manner, manner too late for Pitbull to come back over. Take into consideration this: Michael Chandler made the transfer over at 34 and was nonetheless previous his finest. Pitbull is three years past that. Pitbull hasn’t been elite elite for some time. Actually, Saturday extra made me suppose Yair is likely to be previous it as properly, given how uninspiring his efficiency was.

However no, the hole between the UFC and different promotions is actual, nevertheless it doesn’t exist on the high finish. The hole is within the center class. The UFC has a whole lot of nice fighters. Bellator had dozens. However the high guys have been all all the time elite. The identical manner they have been elite in WEC and Strikeforce and Satisfaction earlier than.

Jean Silva

“Do you suppose Jean Silva wants 1 or 2 rounds to take the belt from Volk? Silva will pull the set off the place Diego didn’t.”

Look, man, Alexander Volkanovski is an all-time nice and deserves our respect. However I’ve been as excessive on Jean Silva as anyone, and he’s even one way or the other exceeding my expectations. I genuinely thought Bryce Mitchell may bother Silva on Saturday. As an alternative, that was one of many beatdowns of the yr to date.

I don’t suppose Silva is one of the best fighter to come back from the Combating Nerds camp (Caio Borralho seemingly holds that distinction) however he’s undoubtedly my favourite, and with the featherweight division as open as it’s proper now, he has an actual likelihood to vault right into a title shot sooner slightly than later. And this might simply be blatant homerism for my boy “Lord,” however I believe he’d have an incredible shot at beating Volkanovski.

Diego Lopes wasn’t near successful on Saturday, however he did get Volkanovski in bother a few instances and easily didn’t have the instruments to complete the drill. Not solely does Silva have these instruments, however he’s additionally higher geared up to harm Volkanovski within the first place. Silva has a lot craftier boxing and footwork than Lopes, is way faster, and nonetheless hits like a truck. I believe Silva may very well be a fairly robust matchup for Volkanovski, actually.

Nonetheless, he nonetheless has to get there, and there aren’t any cakewalks at 145. I’d choose Silva to beat most featherweights, nevertheless it wouldn’t stun me if Lerone Murphy simply out-teched him over 25 minutes. Or Evloev or Aljamain Sterling may need extra success tackling him than Mitchell did.

If I’m the UFC, Silva is taking over Arnold Allen in a title eliminator this summer time. And if he wins, Volk higher be careful, as a result of Lord is coming.

Thanks for studying and due to everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you might have any burning questions on issues no less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? You then’re in luck as a result of you’ll be able to ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply all the nice ones! It doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.