Volk's amazing footwork and movement at 37

[mkt]

People jump on the “[insert fighter] name is out of his prime after a loss”. Way to quickly, it’s outdated excuse from those PrideFC fan girls, that made it common place in today’s MMA landscape, When in reality Volkanovski clearly was still fighting at elite level in his losses to Makhachev and Topuria, he just loss to better fighters, lots of fighters of were discarded after a loss, Jose Aldo is a good example, he clearly still had it and was able to compete against elite comp in lower weight class, still was physically capable same as Volkanovski is at this current time. It’s just people are stuck with ways believing a fighter is shot after a few losses, instead accepting the better fighters won.

The fact the UFC had BW and flyweight champs who were age 34 until recently proves this as well. The lightest divisions are the least forgiving as you get older.

I always got flak for saying it (and probably will again), but there's no way Cro-Cop, Big Nog and Fedor should all get the "past prime" excuse at age 32-33 when that's not granted to non-Pride fighters.

It's not just Pride, either. I heard Gil Melendez was "too old" at age 31 when he came to the UFC from Strikeforce. But Islam was LW and then WW champ at age 34. Now they're saying the same for Patchy. It's more about personal bias and anti-UFC sentiment than logical thinking and consistency.

 

[Neck&Neck]

He should do Dancing With The Stars
Bring home another belt

 

[KO Shotz]

You have no eye for the sport if you look at Volk and think he’s the same guy he was when he first became champ

So you're saying that he has looked bad since becoming champ again?

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

So you're saying that he has looked bad since becoming champ again?

Did I say he has looked bad?

I'm saying he's not the same fighter he was

He's slower, can't throw the same volume, worse reflexes, worse chin, etc.

You don't even have to have an eye to know this at lower weight classes, it's fair to assume literally every 145er at age 37 is physically regressed from when he was 32... no way around it for anyone

 

[KO Shotz]

Did I say he has looked bad?

I'm saying he's not the same fighter he was

He's slower, can't throw the same volume, worse reflexes, worse chin, etc.

You don't even have to have an eye to know this at lower weight classes, it's fair to assume literally every 145er at age 37 is physically regressed from when he was 32... no way around it for anyone

In the Ilia fight he definitely didn't look like the guy we all grew to know & love. But he definitely has bounced back from that performance & has looked to be himself again. He in no shape or form has looked slow with weak punches. His volume is because he's fighting smart instead of getting into a slugfest with someone who has dynamite in his hands. & a worse chin? What makes you say that? In what scenario has he showed where his chin has weakened as of late? His reflexes looked pretty damn good to me since he didn't get beaten up.

 

[MrShady]

I knew this guy was something special when he beat Chad Mendes.

Hard worker and no quit in him in the face of adversity.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Its impressive

Especially rebounding after the Ilia fight and continuing at a championship level

Volk is a stud

 

[alexxx]

all things considered, I thought it was a impressive win

 

[BluntForceTrama]

This is a great thread until you remember how Topuria outfooted and made Volk look like a simp in their fight

 

[FilipEmoFights]

People jump on the “[insert fighter] name is out of his prime after a loss”. Way to quickly, it’s outdated excuse from those PrideFC fan girls, that made it common place in today’s MMA landscape, When in reality Volkanovski clearly was still fighting at elite level in his losses to Makhachev and Topuria, he just loss to better fighters, lots of fighters of were discarded after a loss, Jose Aldo is a good example, he clearly still had it and was able to compete against elite comp in lower weight class, still was physically capable same as Volkanovski is at this current time. It’s just people are stuck with ways believing a fighter is shot after a few losses, instead accepting the better fighters won.

I wouldn’t even say Islam is better just keeps having luckier circumstances

 

[Judge Lance Ito]

37 isn't even that old

 

[FilipEmoFights]

I think it comes from the Rugby background-to be Volk’s size and an effective rugby player is probably hard to do-not only is it athleticism but he has to somehow make the impact of his hits matchup to guys who are in the sport simply because they’re bigger then him and can slam into people knocking the ball loose or whatever-I’d imagine the knowledge of leverage and body positioning it takes to be successful in that would likely translate well to fighting-particularly grappling. Yes I know he lost like 120lbs before MMA which is also nuts. The dude is a special talent but likely carries twice the amount of CTE than a normal fighter. I remember we were all pissed off when he fought Aldo lol

 

[TR1]

It is for a professional fighter.

It is for any serious sport.

People just make excuses for the UFC's inability to get enough new talent pipeline.

Wake me up when the Olympics starts seeing its average athlete age increase by like a decade lol.

 

[VinceArch]

It is for any serious sport.

People just make excuses for the UFC's inability to get enough new talent pipeline.

Wake me up when the Olympics starts seeing its average athlete age increase by like a decade lol.

True.

 

[acannxr]

People jump on the “[insert fighter] name is out of his prime after a loss”. Way to quickly, it’s outdated excuse from those PrideFC fan girls, that made it common place in today’s MMA landscape, When in reality Volkanovski clearly was still fighting at elite level in his losses to Makhachev and Topuria, he just loss to better fighters, lots of fighters of were discarded after a loss, Jose Aldo is a good example, he clearly still had it and was able to compete against elite comp in lower weight class, still was physically capable same as Volkanovski is at this current time. It’s just people are stuck with ways believing a fighter is shot after a few losses, instead accepting the better fighters won.

Pride fighters WERE out of their prime, just like Volk is out of his prime now; remaining competitive doesn't disprove a fighter being out of their prime.

Aldo's prime ended in the KZ fight, but because he's an all-time great he remained competitive for the next ten years.

 

[volcom5]

Pride fighters WERE out of their prime, just like Volk is out of his prime now; remaining competitive doesn't disprove a fighter being out of their prime.

I don’t believe that one bit, those PrideFC were just a tad bit overrated and when they fought consistent A & S class competition it showed.

Aldo's prime ended in the KZ fight, but because he's an all-time great he remained competitive for the next ten years.

huh? Aldo was shot at 26? With 20 fights in? I think his Prime ended when he fought Merab.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

got to hand it to him, volk is the man. i've always respected the fight skills, wasn't the biggest believer. obviously he's smashed 99% of the adversaries he's fought.

i thought he did enough to get the win or draw over islam the first time.

second islam fight i don't even count.

that loss to topuria was rough.

but he made the adjustments, and fought the perfect fight against lopes this past saturday.

you got to give him the most highest of all props for that one. didn't look like he missed a beat at all.

pretty damn crazy to see and inspiring. 37, defying the odds, and looking even better against a super dangerous opponent.

australia is not lucky to have a volk, but it's just a pretty damn cool thing to see for them.