Hot Take Could Volk be considered the GOAT with a second win over Lopes + Evloev?

[Subline]

Something that a lot of people are not talking about is the opportunity Volk has to really elevate his case for GOAT in 2026.
I know the fight game is unpredictable, but this is a highly feasible outcome and I'm sure the majority are actually favoring Volk to beat Lopes + Murphy/Evloev winner.

Should he rack up these two wins, where would you place him on the GOAT list?
I would make the argument that his resume would be stronger than the current consensus GOAT... Jon Jones.

• Volk's only loss at FW is to Ilia, which is much less of a slight than losing to Dominick Reyes at LHW.
• Volk had to fight a GOAT in Islam for double champ, gave him his toughest fight. Jones got the HW strap handed to him with the Gane fight, Stipe fight counts for naught.
• Volk's win over 2022 Max is the equivalent of Jones' against 2015 DC, both guys have similar standings in their division, maybe DC slightly more, Volk won more dominantly.
• Volk's 30-27 over Aldo is more notable than Jones' R2 TKO of Shogun, Aldo is the more legendary fighter and had a stronger standing in the UFC after these respective fights.
• Volk's win over 2019 + 2020 Max are more notable than any of Jones' remaining title wins.
• Volk's win against 2018 Mendes is more impressive than Jones' against 2018 Gus, considering Gus lost to Anthony Smith mere months later.
• 10 fight win streak Evloev/Murphy would be a better title defense than any of Jones'.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

The second win over Lopes adds nothing to this equation.

Glad we're seeing it next

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Not if Islam keeps winning

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

He'd definitely have a claim at 145, but it'd still be 2nd best

For me, the divisional goats (Jon, Anderson, GSP, Aldo, MM) would reallllllly have to be usurped to an unquestionable degree.

Merab seemingly had 135 GOAT status all but locked up and look how premature that now seems just less than a month later, we could say its still between Cruz TJ Aljo and MD now.

Goat would be quite the stretch for Volk

 

[prime_lobov]

View attachment 1128516
Something that a lot of people are not talking about is the opportunity Volk has to really elevate his case for GOAT in 2026.
I know the fight game is unpredictable, but this is a highly feasible outcome and I'm sure the majority are actually favoring Volk to beat Lopes + Murphy/Evloev winner.

Should he rack up these two wins, where would you place him on the GOAT list?
I would make the argument that his resume would be stronger than the current consensus GOAT... Jon Jones.

• Volk's only loss at FW is to Ilia, which is much less of a slight than losing to Dominick Reyes at LHW.
• Volk had to fight a GOAT in Islam for double champ, gave him his toughest fight. Jones got the HW strap handed to him with the Gane fight, Stipe fight counts for naught.
• Volk's win over 2022 Max is the equivalent of Jones' against 2015 DC, both guys have similar standings in their division, maybe DC slightly more, Volk won more dominantly.
• Volk's 30-27 over Aldo is more notable than Jones' R2 TKO of Shogun, Aldo is the more legendary fighter and had a stronger standing in the UFC after these respective fights.
• Volk's win over 2019 + 2020 Max are more notable than any of Jones' remaining title wins.
• Volk's win against 2018 Mendes is more impressive than Jones' against 2018 Gus, considering Gus lost to Anthony Smith mere months later.
• 10 fight win streak Evloev/Murphy would be a better title defense than any of Jones'.

Wait, what? A 30-27 non-title fight is more notable than 21-year-old Jones brutally dismantling an all-time great, not just TKO’ing him but making him tap to strikes like a bitch?

Volk attempted to move up and lose twice, once by KO, and was also brutally KO’d by Ilia in his native division. Jones moved up and became champ and never lost except by DQ at LHW. Volk is not close to Jones in the goat discussion. 145 goat sure, but not all-round goat.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

145?

Right Now

1A Aldo
1B Volk

 

[BroScienceTalkatWork]

The overall goat?

Your overall goat would be a guy who got KOed twice in 6 months?

 

[Bork Neslar]

Maybe.
Maybe not.

 

[RockyLockridge]

The second win over Lopes adds nothing to this equation.

Glad we're seeing it next

hmmm it's still agreat win. It wouldn't add nothing. It just wouldn't add something unique.

It for sure furthers his goat claims, because as far as i can tell, people look at the amount of title defenses/wins only. And if they AREN'T looking at only that, volk is already the FW goat because there is no reasonable arguement for aldo being better other than the fact he has more title wins

 

[dipstickjimmy]

View attachment 1128516
Something that a lot of people are not talking about is the opportunity Volk has to really elevate his case for GOAT in 2026.
I know the fight game is unpredictable, but this is a highly feasible outcome and I'm sure the majority are actually favoring Volk to beat Lopes + Murphy/Evloev winner.

Should he rack up these two wins, where would you place him on the GOAT list?
I would make the argument that his resume would be stronger than the current consensus GOAT... Jon Jones.

• Volk's only loss at FW is to Ilia, which is much less of a slight than losing to Dominick Reyes at LHW.
• Volk had to fight a GOAT in Islam for double champ, gave him his toughest fight. Jones got the HW strap handed to him with the Gane fight, Stipe fight counts for naught.
• Volk's win over 2022 Max is the equivalent of Jones' against 2015 DC, both guys have similar standings in their division, maybe DC slightly more, Volk won more dominantly.
• Volk's 30-27 over Aldo is more notable than Jones' R2 TKO of Shogun, Aldo is the more legendary fighter and had a stronger standing in the UFC after these respective fights.
• Volk's win over 2019 + 2020 Max are more notable than any of Jones' remaining title wins.
• Volk's win against 2018 Mendes is more impressive than Jones' against 2018 Gus, considering Gus lost to Anthony Smith mere months later.
• 10 fight win streak Evloev/Murphy would be a better title defense than any of Jones'.

GOAT FW? Maybe but since GSP is GOAT then that's a no.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

not just TKO’ing him but making him tap to strikes like a bitch?

ok I'll nibble on this juicy piece of bait. First of all tapping to strikes is no different from tapping to a submission when you know you are beat or stuck in a position and cant get out you tap out and that is fine. Secondly If a fighter is ever put in a situation to have to tap to strikes I put all the blame on the ref for not recognising the situation. Like wtf fuck are you doing ref making your grocery list? Calling Shogun a bitch is rich coming from a kid that lives in his Moms basement with Cheeto stained fingers and Mountain Dew stained wife beater.

 

[cws80us]

TS is obviously a Jones hater and biased. Giving false information and discounting everything Jones has done. Pitiful attempt actually lol

 

[Thy]

Goat curry taste good. I like volk. He's into food.

 

[prime_lobov]

ok I'll nibble on this juicy piece of bait. First of all tapping to strikes is no different from tapping to a submission when you know you are beat or stuck in a position and cant get out you tap out and that is fine. Secondly If a fighter is ever put in a situation to have to tap to strikes I put all the blame on the ref for not recognising the situation. Like wtf fuck are you doing ref making your grocery list? Calling Shogun a bitch is rich coming from a kid that lives in his Moms basement with Cheeto stained fingers and Mountain Dew stained wife beater.

I’m also a Shogun fan so I understand your frustration. However, it is an indisputable fact that he tapped like a bitch against Jones and then did it again against Paul Craig. Very odd considering his just bleed style, but it’s the truth.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

I probably have him Top 15 right now...

 

[BFoe]

I probably have him Top 15 right now...

I’ve been trying to decide if Volk has done enough to slide into my Top 10 All Time at #10. He’d be bumping Dan Henderson, I dunno.

 

[Fight Professor]

He has a bad loss to Topuria. GSP has avenged all the losses on his record. Jones has no real losses on his record. Fedor was undefeated throughout JMMA.

Can you put Volk over Aldo in that scenario? Possibly but it would not be convincing.

 

[fortheo]

The second win over Lopes adds nothing to this equation.

Glad we're seeing it next

It's a dumb fight for sure, but it would still be another ranked win. It definitely adds something, but I understand your resentment for the fight

 

[fortheo]

He'd definitely have a claim at 145, but it'd still be 2nd best

For me, the divisional goats (Jon, Anderson, GSP, Aldo, MM) would reallllllly have to be usurped to an unquestionable degree.

Merab seemingly had 135 GOAT status all but locked up and look how premature that now seems just less than a month later, we could say its still between Cruz TJ Aljo and MD now.

Goat would be quite the stretch for Volk

What would volk need to do to surpass Aldo in your eyes?

 

[tillet]

Volk is number 1 at 145 i think. aldo was amazing to watch but I think volk has already surpassed.
But not volk overall goat. For top 10 overall can say yes