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 in opposition to Diego Lopes on Saturday to say the vacant featherweight title and grow to be 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 means of 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 huge second. So let’s discuss all of it.

Curses

“Does Volk profitable 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 cause Volkanovski gained on Saturday is that he’s an distinctive fighter. Volkanovski is without doubt one of the 10 best fighters to ever lace up the gloves, and Saturday was affirmation of the very 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 prime opposition even after their primes are over.

However the second largest cause Volkanovski gained on Saturday evening is that he’s a nightmare matchup for Diego Lopes. I do know everybody loves Lopes, and he’s undeniably enjoyable, however he isn’t a technical or tactical savant. Lopes wins fights by being huge and harmful and a bit wild, and that isn’t a very good fashion to fight one of many best tacticians and technicians in MMA historical past. When Lopes was in a position to land, he damage Volkanovski, however he’s a far cry from Ilia Topuria in the case of footwork and depth of expertise, which means Volkanovski may merely climate the storm, and Lopes rapidly ran out of concepts. In the event that they fought 100 occasions, 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 truth about sports activities and combating normally: 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 appears beatable, which he by no means did pre Islam Makhachev.

“Do you foresee him having two extra defenses to interrupt Aldo’s document 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 document. Aldo had 9 consecutive title defenses; Volkanovski has 5. He wants 4 extra defenses to get there. I really feel like this can be a truth individuals neglect (as a result of the UFC actively tries to erase Jose Aldo’s significance for some cause), 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 individuals 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 unimaginable. As talked about above, I feel Lopes was a uniquely nice matchup for Volkanovski, and whereas he fought brilliantly, he nonetheless regarded lesser than earlier than. If Topuria comes again down, I might choose him comfortably to reclaim the belt, which means Volkanovski is simply champion by the grace of Topuria, and I don’t know the way lengthy that may even final.

That being mentioned, Volkanovski does benefit from respectable matchups forward of him. It appears like Movsar Evloev will get the following shot at Volkanovski, and whereas Evloev is an efficient fighter, he’s not the form of offensive dynamo that makes Volkanovski’s diminished sturdiness a significant concern. And the remainder of the division is in flux, so perhaps Volk sneaks in a Yair Rodriguez rematch or one thing. I’d say it’s potential.

GOAT dialogue

“Featherweight GOAT.”

Examine again later this week as we’ll do a deep dive on this matter, however the reply is easy: Jose Aldo has 9 consecutive title defenses; Volkanovski has simply over half of that. You possibly can 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 will 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 loads 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 highschool on Saturday, and Lopes isn’t a spring hen. He’s 30 years outdated, and there’s an entire 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 prime LW earlier than combating 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 can. As a result of after Paddy’s efficiency on Saturday, it’s very potential to see him combating for the light-weight belt at some point, and if that’s the case, then the UFC in all probability needs 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 best way Pimblett demolished him made me a believer in “The Paddy” as a professional 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 mentioned that might be a sanctioned homicide, however now I’m not practically so certain.

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 appears like he’s constructed out of them.”

Under no circumstances. Once more, like with the Oliveira battle, just a few years in the past I used to be sure that was an execution. Now, Pimblett can positively win that battle. Topuria wasn’t an particularly huge 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 inform you that’s not true. Measurement isn’t the one factor that issues however it’s rattling useful in a fist battle and Paddy shall be huge in comparison with Topuria. Sure, Topuria is an elite fighter, however Pimblett has grow to be one himself. I might nonetheless choose Topuria, however that’s out of the blue a matchup I’m very concerned about.

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 may be previous it as effectively, given how uninspiring his efficiency was.

However no, the hole between the UFC and different promotions is actual, however it doesn’t exist on the prime finish. The hole is within the center class. The UFC has a whole lot of nice fighters. Bellator had dozens. However the prime guys have been all at all times 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 by some means exceeding my expectations. I genuinely thought Bryce Mitchell may hassle Silva on Saturday. As a substitute, that was one of many beatdowns of the 12 months to this point.

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

Diego Lopes wasn’t near profitable on Saturday, however he did get Volkanovski in hassle a few occasions 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 far faster, and nonetheless hits like a truck. I feel Silva might be a reasonably robust matchup for Volkanovski, truthfully.

Nonetheless, he nonetheless has to get there, and there aren’t any cakewalks at 145. I’d choose Silva to beat most featherweights, however it wouldn’t stun me if Lerone Murphy simply out-teched him over 25 minutes. Or Evloev or Aljamain Sterling might 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 season. 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’ve gotten any burning questions on issues at the least considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’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.