Alexander Volkanovsky stated he felt higher than ever. He stated his religion in himself was at an all-time excessive. He stated he would cease Chan Sung Joong. This was confirmed on Saturday night time in Jacksonville.
The Australian put in a very dominant present, feeding Jung a sequence of heavy photographs to the pinnacle and physique, and even working a takedown for a very good motion.
Jung had no reply.
Now’s the time for Volkanovsky to defend his homeland. It has been over 4 years since he was completely satisfied to combat in Australia, the final time he got here to Perth was in February 2018, and his star energy is as shining as ever. It is a fighter on the absolute high in his sport, top-of-the-line pounders within the UFC, and now he deserves the possibility to combat on house floor, the place he’s amongst Australia’s elite athletes.
Volkanovsky advised ESPN within the lead-up that he was conscious of the discuss one other occasion in Melbourne on the finish of the 12 months, and nobody else deserved to headline an occasion that might be attended by greater than 50,000 followers.
Can the event come to him? is unlikely. Arduous work and self-discipline are the cornerstones of Volkanovsky’s success, a trait that makes him love his countrymen.
“It is simply driving, driving to get higher, all the time being higher throughout,” he stated contained in the octagon after the combat. “You may be higher throughout.
“Get that drive, that drive, and maintain in search of methods to enhance, it’s that simple… I’m not essentially the most athletically gifted man, onerous work and drive obtained me the place I’m, and look what I’m doing.”
Hopefully that may embody a Down Underneath combat earlier than the 12 months is out. That, and the UFC has discovered a worthy contender for the 145-pound throne. – Sam Bruce
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Sterling received pretty and squarely, however the boos in all probability will not cease
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Aljamain Sterling wins his long-awaited rematch with Petr Yan by way of cut up resolution at UFC 273.
Aljamain Sterling is the legit UFC Bantamweight Champion. No person can take that from him. Sterling has been criticized as not being a real champion for over a 12 months. He solely received in March 2023 as a result of Peter Jan hit him with an unlawful knee and he was disqualified. On Saturday night time at UFC 273, Sterling received half and sq.. He went 5 rounds and beat Yan by cut up resolution. That is what’s acknowledged within the rule e book.
That is technically a title protection for Sterling. However for a lot of, Saturday, April 9, would be the night time he was really topped champion. Sterling did so after neck surgical procedure and greater than a 12 months of social media boos and abuse. And he and his group ought to be happy with a stable efficiency in opposition to Yan, the favourite and the person many consider is one of the best on the planet at 135 kilos.
With all that stated, Sterling would not be capable of rock the bao. It was a detailed combat – a cut up resolution – and a few thought Yan received. The group in Jacksonville booed the choice and booed Sterling the whole time. When he laid his again on the bottom, the gang sneered. In the meantime, when Yan Stirling lay on the bottom, there was no such response.
Sterling might have firmly established itself because the MMA equal of a “heel” by means of a bent to displease followers. Saturday night time, it would not matter. He is a UFC champ and only a few would say one thing like that. However going ahead, sterling will possible proceed to beat it. – Mark Raimondi
Dern’s rise makes ladies’s peels pretty much as good as any division within the UFC
Mackenzie Dern reminded the world that her wrestling potential can remodel a combat. Tecia Torres was courageous on Saturday night time and proved unattainable to complete, however did not tackle Dern, who was a bit higher. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu star struggled to search out a chance to cease or attempt to advance within the first spherical, however managed to make use of the fence within the second spherical. Within the third set, her hitting and squeezing helped her safe a detailed win by cut up resolution.
Sure, Torres managed to take care of her typical excessive tempo and spectacular measurement, however Dern was by no means in actual hazard, as her sport continued to face nonetheless earlier than our eyes. After shedding to Marina Rodriguez, this was an enormous win for Dern, even when she did not obtain her objective of getting the end.
With Rose Namajunas defending in opposition to Carla Esparza in Might and Joanna Jedrzejczyk returning in June for a second match for former champions in opposition to Zhang Weili, the highest fighters within the 115-pound class can stand taller than some other weight class within the promotion. Dern’s rise means we’ll have a stable set of fights to see within the second half of the 12 months.
Bennington reminds the world that she remains to be on the high of the category
The suspension knocked her out of the scores for some time, however Raquel Pennington did not actually depart the highest of the bantamweight division. She took benefit of a short-term name to switch Irene Aldana in opposition to Aspen Ladd, and received by unanimous resolution.
Bennington shall be again within the high 5 within the division by Tuesday.
Pennington displayed robust combos and was trying to end within the first two rounds in opposition to Ladd, a extremely fascinating prospect and has misplaced twice in a row and three of her final 4.
It was a very good present at a time when Giuliana Peña and Amanda Nunes are about to face one another for a second time, and there aren’t many choices for the subsequent contender.
A rematch in opposition to Aldana, which Bennington defeated by cut up resolution in 2019, would possibly make sense in the summertime when Aldana is able to return after the harm that stored her out of UFC 273. Carlos Contreras Legaspi
Gary is correct to be affected person
Anybody hoping for the fast rise of Ian Gary might have been upset watching his efficiency in a unanimous victory over Darian Weeks. Probably the greatest prospects within the UFC, Gary hasn’t been by means of weeks as many thought.
that is good.
Perhaps it is higher for my neighbor’s profession in the long term. Gary stated he needs to be affected person and work slowly into the welterweight rankings. If my neighbor got here and smashed weeks, it is perhaps tempting for the UFC to start out throwing him among the many wolves. Do not forget that Gary is simply 24 years outdated. He has the charisma and abilities to be an enormous MMA celebrity, however he additionally trusts that you do not need to mess with it at this level.
Gary and his group have been adamant they wished to take their time. He isn’t attempting to be the champ subsequent week or subsequent 12 months. If he ever will get to that stage, and he can, we would look again on this battle with Weeks as a studying second. Weeks gave him some bother, though Gary was the clear winner. Gary confirmed flashes of brilliance with a robust punch, an attractive punch, lightning kicks and a crafty proper hand. However he could not maintain weeks away, and he additionally ate a couple of photographs. And that is completely fantastic.
The UFC ought to give him one other low cost like the next weeks. Any discuss of a labeled enemy ought to be placed on a quiet fireplace. Gary reveres Conor McGregor and what he has accomplished in sports activities, however McGregor-like ascent is not for everybody. There’s nothing mistaken with taking it step-by-step. “Future” is Gary’s nickname, but it surely would not need to be tomorrow. – Raimondi
