How is Volkanovski too fast for featherweights but too slow against a lightweight?

Short notice probably has a bit to do with it. The fact that most people are bigger than featherweights probably has a bit to do with it too.
 
You know how height a lot of time is BS? You can't trust fighter reach stat either. Volk is listed as having more reach than Islam which is unlikely considering the height discrepancy. Your limbs are proportionate relatively to the rest of your body.

Islam was beating him to the punch cause he had more reach
Yeah this reach thing is a load of nonsense, Volk does not have longer reach, he struggled all the time at range, its only when he gets in close that he lands his shots, he is like Cormier, has to get in side and close up.

Holloway in their 2nd fight won, and he was beating the snot out of Volk because he was at range and Volk just couldn't get close, in the later rounds he managed to get some takedowns and holding against the fence, but no way he won that fight in my opinion, its ridiculous. That was because Holloway used his reach very well in that fight... Volk learned and was right in his face the next fight and won cleanly
 
I don't trust the reach stats put out by the UFC, but maybe it's right.

Either way, compared to FW:
- Volk has to work harder to get inside and land.
- Volk has to worry A LOT about getting taken down (weight difference + Islam is a great wrestler)
- Volk isn't the stronger man in the clinch, where he dominates at FW
- Volk has to worry more about his gas tank due to having to work much harder to strike and grapple effectively.

Weight classes exist for a reason. Evidence #67,001.
 
height is more important to "practical reach" than arm length. Height allows fighters to lean in and out of striking range.

kind of but not entirely. the taller fighter has the luxury of striking downwards while the shorter fighter has to strike upwards. the way the shoulders work, it is easier to get more extension going downwards, than upwards. not to mention keeping the chin protected is harder for a man punching upwards and it is easier to get knocked out that way

but still, reach/wingspan is tremendously important. which fighter do you think would have the advantage in striking range, Sergei Pavlovich or Alexander Volkov? Pavlovich is 6'3'' while Volkov is at least 6'7''. but Pavlovich has an 84 inch reach vs Volkov who has an 80 inch reach.
 
The Caucus fighters are a different level. Their techniques is so slick and fine tuned, they see things other fighters don't, their training process is very smart and cerebral. They can figure out "invincible" fighters easily.
 
I'd say it's because Islam is just that good. He deserves so much credit for the work he's been putting in on his standup, it's really wild how much it seems to be improved from fight to fight
 
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