Media Volk Interview : "I Wanna See How Easily He Breaks When Things Don't Go To Plan”

[JudoThrowFiasco]

His footwork is exceptional. He can cut angles in and out quickly, hit and not get hit, but he's just too small. I could see him pot shotting his way to a victory in some way shape or form in mind, but it's likelihood is miniscule. I don't think he'll be able to kick with the threat of the takedown and Islam will get a hold of him and at the very least push him into the cage to initiate grappling before the takedown. I'm worried about him being able to get up with a guy that big and strong on top of him. It's intriguing but that's only if it isn't predictable.

Compact stocky and strong guys are harder to keep down though. He's smaller but he's explosive and athletic

 

[Gracious Warrior]

I know my mind would blow if I see Volk stuffing Islam.

LmAO I don't think your mind is the only thing that's gonna blow if you see that

 

[Substance Abuse]

That's a fair breakdown for sure. I still think Volk is islam's biggest challenge since Tsarukyan, who himself was a short fire hydrant of a man. We'll see how it goes. I'm excited for this fight.

Compact stocky and strong guys are harder to keep down though. He's smaller but he's explosive and athletic

The guy is a fucking tank and not having to cut as much weight and adding more muscle allows him to get closer to those rugby roots we've all seen. I just think being the smaller guy against Islam is a death sentence and it's a pretty straightforward fight for him. Volkanovski might be right though, if he can somehow steal some rounds and make Islam try some wrong, maybe he can create some chaos or uncertainty.

 

[ExitLUPin]

Bro, that's like me saying Volk will crush Islam with a jab because ramos staggered him with a jab.

Volk is saying his experience with bigger wrestlers "all his life" will have him prepared for Islam

Yet a lanky relatively weak BJJ player who isn't known for his TD game did this to him....

Everyone from opponents (Arman, Dober, Bobby etc) to sparring partners/teammates (Rockhold, Thomson etc) constantly say how Islam has freakish strength and technique and how his clinch and top pressure is way above his weight and feels like a MW when he gets a hold of you.

If/when Islam ties up with Volk he is gonna be shocked by how badly he gets ragdolled.

 

[fortheo]

Volk is saying his experience with bigger wrestlers "all his life" will have him prepared for Islam

Yet a lanky relatively weak BJJ player who isn't known for his TD game did this to him....

Everyone from opponents (Arman, Dober, Bobby etc) to sparring partners/teammates (Rockhold, Thomson etc) constantly say how Islam has freakish strength and technique and how his clinch and top pressure is way above his weight and feels like a MW when he gets a hold of you.

If/when Islam ties up with Volk he is gonna be shocked by how badly he gets ragdolled.

and he got up or got on top in every single example you show of him, which is eactly what he's saying he'll continue to do. I get it, though, those guys aren't islam.

But I can just as easily say that Martins and Ramos were landing on islam, and those guys aren't volk

 

[Substance Abuse]

and he got up or got on top in every single example you show of him, which is eactly what he's saying he'll continue to do..... I get it, those guys aren't islam.

But I can just as easily say that Martins and ramos were landing on islam, and those guys aren't volk

Lupin knows everything.

 

[Iroh]

Great cliffs @fortheo ! I love Volk's resolution and confidence, and I really want to believe he can do it. It gives some of that old school openweight size diffrence vibes, but it's hard to believe he can pull off an Igor-like performance against a dude as skilled as Islam. Especially because he doesn't have the power, unlike an Igor.

 

[HHJ]

I dont wanna see either Volk or Islam lose but i also really want to see them fight!

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

The guy is a fucking tank and not having to cut as much weight and adding more muscle allows him to get closer to those rugby roots we've all seen. I just think being the smaller guy against Islam is a death sentence and it's a pretty straightforward fight for him. Volkanovski might be right though, if he can somehow steal some rounds and make Islam try some wrong, maybe he can create some chaos or uncertainty.

Was going to mention the transition between rugby / shorter guy leverage and grappling bigger guys but that's a can of worms. NORMALLY I'd fully agree with the Islam' v a featherweight advantage but to me this is a fight of two specialists. While Islam is a freak grappler, Volks abilit to close gaps AND create space is mastery. I think that Dagestani constant pressure to chain wreslting gets negated here. Volk being explosive and compact (and knowing he's in for a grapple fest) with that footwork is going to be a different challenge than what Islam is used to. Plus, the constant forward pressure vs someone who angles off and closes space like Volk does may leave Islam open for some big shots.

I'm obviously going to favor Islam but Volk to me is a very live dog here.

 

[Xoleth]

If Volk beats Islam and defends at LW, I am willing to consider him GOAT.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

Volk's skill is top tier. He's he's got brass balls for taking on this challenge. He's going to get bullied in there, however. I would love to be wrong and witness a huge upset, but as I've said time and time again, I think it's a bridge too far Alexander. In MMA crazy shit happens all the time, so while Volk winning is possible, it's highly unlikely.

Thanks for the cliffs, TS. Great job @fortheo

Pretty much my thoughts on it. Pretty happy we've got Volk representing Aussies the way he does, he carries himself the right way. But fuck he's done a Kambosos and brought over a superstar to headline with in a home show, I do love both of them daring to be great though.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Was going to mention the transition between rugby / shorter guy leverage and grappling bigger guys but that's a can of worms. NORMALLY I'd fully agree with the Islam' v a featherweight advantage but to me this is a fight of two specialists. While Islam is a freak grappler, Volks abilit to close gaps AND create space is mastery. I think that Dagestani constant pressure to chain wreslting gets negated here. Volk being explosive and compact (and knowing he's in for a grapple fest) with that footwork is going to be a different challenge than what Islam is used to. Plus, the constant forward pressure vs someone who angles off and closes space like Volk does may leave Islam open for some big shots.

I'm obviously going to favor Islam but Volk to me is a very live dog here.

We both see the path to victory for Volk the same way. I just think he has less of a chance than you do. Hopefully he can make things interesting. Volk is one of the best fighters in the world. I don't mean to unfairly doubt him, but instead, am just trying to be realistic.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Pretty much my thoughts on it. Pretty happy we've got Volk representing Aussies the way he does, he carries himself the right way. But fuck he's done a Kambosos and brought over a superstar to headline with in a home show, I do love both of them daring to be great though.

I kind of felt bad for George when he decided to take on Haney rather than search out some easier fights to build up the resume, get some easier checks and then cash out later. Picking Haney first was a huge risk. It didn't pay off. I respect it.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

We both see the path to victory for Volk the same way. I just think he has less of a chance than you do. Hopefully he can make things interesting. Volk is one of the best fighters in the world. I don't mean to unfairly doubt him, but instead, am just trying to be realistic.

That's completely fair. It's that Dagestani chain style vs a guy with a short and wide torso / back and angles off better than anyone has me thinking this is closer than people think. I like Volks pathway (still think Islam is the obvious favorite)

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

If Volk beats Islam and defends at LW, I am willing to consider him GOAT.

It would be the strongest argument of GOAT status couple with the rest of his body of work

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

I kind of felt bad for George when he decided to take on Haney rather than search out some easier fights to build up the resume, get some easier checks and then cash out later. Picking Haney first was a huge risk. It didn't pay off. I respect it.

Bloody oath, much hespect. I think Garcia would have been a better option, I mean he's still top level too but more hittable for George, he would have had a better chance. You can't deny the balls though!

 

[Iroh]

Arman is a shorter stockier guy that was hard to take and keep down. Do we think Volk can do just as good a job as Arman?

 

[ilfirin]

I do think that Volk is a tough test for anyone, even at LW. And I do believe he's deceptively strong. That being said, he hasn't faced anyone like Islam before either. It's going to be one hell of a fight, that's for sure.

 

[Kaynan]

Some sparse Cliffs:

• Glad khabib and islam called him out in the cage.
• Happy that he got to experience a whole fight week with them and feel their presence in the arena/octagon.
• Says islam is a big strong wrestler, but he's been training with wrestlers bigger than him all of his life.
• In regards to Islam constantly calling him short, volk responds "you think the last 25 people I beat didn't think or say that? You're just saying something everyone else has said"
• He thinks Islam is kind of underestimating him in a sense because of the size difference, which might shock islam when they face off in the octagon because when volk is going to be in front of islam, making him uncomfortable on the feet, and then when he tries to grab volk, islam will realize volk isn't as weak as he thought, and all of this will start to break islam, and volk wants to see his face when that happens.
• He puts himself in the shittiest positions possible in camp. He won't be phased by what islam brings.
• Wants to see how islam reacts when the short man gets back up and punches him in the face.

What volk brings that other past opponents of Islam didn't bring:

• Volk is not going to stand in front of him. Nothing but respect to charles, but he's there to be hit. Volk is not.
• Islam will be trying to figure out a puzzle in front of him. The movement is going to be difficult, he'll try to grab a leg, but he has to be in the right position to feel comfortable enough to shoot, and he won't feel that straight away, and he'll become desperate.
• Islam hasn't faced anyone with the calculated footwork that volk has.
• Volk's confident in his ability to stuff takedowns and get back to his feet.
• Everyone thinks Volk is small and short, but within 10 seconds he sees his opponents looking uncomfortable and confused.
• Volk mentions "It's funny because they think they're the only guys that's just wrestled or something, as if we haven't been training wrestling...."

Thanks for the cliffs. Good post

 

[Iroh]

Also, as for those takedowns people scored on Volk in that HL, it's very possible Volk accepted to put himself in positions where he was vulnerable for the take down, because he just that confident in his ability to get back up again. I can see him changing that up and not accept those positions and prepare a more cautious gameplan. But that's all but a guarantee for me.