UFC 314 takeaways: Volkanovski is back, Pimblett radiates– once again

Alex Volkanovski beat Diego Lopes by consentaneous choice to win the lightweight champion at UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami onSaturday After 5 rounds, Volkanovski won by scorecards of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.

In the co-main occasion, Paddy Pimblett controlled Michael Chandler in a third-round TKO and revealed he’s an issue for the light-weight department, particularly since he’s more youthful than all the leading competitors.

Also on the card, Yair Rodriguez revitalized his occupation with an excellent efficiency to destroy Patricio Pitbull’s UFC launching. When Rodriguez goes to the top of his video game, the currently difficult featherweight department is far better than ever before.

Brett Okamoto and Andreas Hale share their ideas on these battles.

The kingdom Volkanovski controls looks various this time around around

“Old Man Volk” is champion once more yet the department is a lot various than the one he controlled when he was champ from 2019 to 2023. Yes, it has actually just been 2 years, yet a check out the landscape at 145 extra pounds exposes that the department has actually seen an overhaul over the previous 24 months. Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria have actually proceeded to the light-weight department and there are brand-new names that weren’t knocking at the door trying to find a title battle.

Volkanovski’s preliminary lightweight title regime saw him invest over half of his 145-pound title battles versusHolloway Chan Sung Jung has actually considering that retired while Brian Ortega has actually dealt with a 1-3 document in his previous 4 battles. This run can be viewed as even more difficult since the 36-year-old will certainly be checked by a brand-new type of featherweights that consist of Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy and Jean Silva, that created a scorching demolition of Bryce Mitchell on the primary card. There are additionally current signees Aaron Pico andPatricio Pitbull And although the last failed versus Yair Rodriguez, it’s not outside the world of opportunity that he functions his means up the ladder.

Stylistic matches and the young people of his challengers can offer fairly the hill for Volkanovski to get over. However, if he handles to make a number of effective title defenses, Volkanovski has a chance to divide himself from boxers like Holloway and Jos é Aldo as the best featherweight in UFC background.

What we do recognize is that this is just one of the inmost, most gifted lightweight departments in current memory. Volkanovski has his job suitable him, yet it will certainly be a reward to see based upon his Saturday efficiency. — Hale

Pimblett is a substantial trouble at light-weight, particularly as a result of his young people

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‘What currently?!’ Paddy Pimblett commemorates after controling win

Paddy Pimblett borders Michael Chandler with a flurry of violation and commemorates in electrical style in the co-main occasion of UFC 314.

If this seems like a backhanded praise, it’s really not. Pimblett’s abilities are official, and he would certainly be a handful for any type of light-weight in his prime; yet the truth he’s falling to the deep end of the light-weight waters each time when those waters are full of boxers in the golden of their jobs absolutely does not harmed.

Pimblett, 30, is certain, gifted and an extremely unsafe finisher. He has actually currently battled Tony Ferguson (41 ), King Green (38) and Chandler (38 ). He’s currently targeting Charles Oliveira (35 ), Justin Gaethje (36) and Dustin Poirier (36 ). Again, I am not taking anything far from Pimblett– yet it’s alright to direct this out. He is entering his prime at the very best time feasible for this department.

If Pimblett can maintain this going, we can be checking out a UFC super star. And allow’s be straightforward, the sporting activity requires as lots of as it can solve currently. The UFC is reasonably star-starved currently, if you contrast it to various other ages. That’s intermittent and it’ll happen, and Pimblett can be among the essential boxers to transform the trend.

Pimblett is the genuine offer; he understands he’s the genuine offer, and the onslaught of outright awesomes at the extremely leading is (mainly) boxers that are beginning to reduce. He has a remarkable possibility in advance of him. — Okamoto

A “good” Rodriguez is so helpful for this department

The lightweight department remains in a strong area, yet it is a lot a lot more intriguing and much better with a fantasticRodriguez And not simply a fantastic Rodriguez, yet a terminated up one.

When he gets on, he’s absolutely nothing except stunning. That 2018 ko of “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the last secondly was the best ko in UFC background– up until Max Holloway knocked senseless Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in 2015. The rotating assaults, the flying assaults, the choke of Josh Emmett for the acting champion at UFC 284 in 2023– Rodriguez can do points that merely can refrain from doing. His finest minutes versus Pitbull on Saturday came when he was under attack and at risk. Rodriguez can be a threat sometimes, and it would certainly be so welcome if he constantly can be one.

Don’t obtain me incorrect, his losses have actually come versus elite skill, yet I can not assist yet believe I still have not seen Rodriguez at full throttle. I wish to see him psychologically spent, if that’s what it takes. I would not mind seeing him combat Diego Lopes after they went at it throughout today’s interview. Rodriguez has actually been fantastic in flashes, yet he’s additionally been non-active sometimes, consisting of when the UFC virtually reduced him in 2018. I’m quibbling a little, yet I simply wish to see what Rodriguez appears like with a little bit of boodle. A little bit of that conceit individuals implicated him of having prior to he shed in the UFC for the very first time to Frankie Edgar back in 2017.

The 145-pound department would certainly profit significantly from thatRodriguez — Okamoto