UFC 314 takeaways: Volkanovski is again, Pimblett radiates- as soon as once more

Alex Volkanovski beat Diego Lopes by consentaneous option to win the light-weight champion at UFC 314 on the Kaseya Center in Miami onSaturday After 5 rounds, Volkanovski received by scorecards of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.

In the co-main event, Paddy Pimblett managed Michael Chandler in a third-round TKO and revealed he’s a problem for the lightweight division, significantly since he’s younger than all of the main opponents.

Also on the cardboard, Yair Rodriguez revitalized his occupation with a wonderful effectivity to destroy Patricio Pitbull’s UFC launching. When Rodriguez goes to the highest of his online game, the at present troublesome featherweight division is much better than ever earlier than.

Brett Okamoto and Andreas Hale share their concepts on these battles.

The kingdom Volkanovski controls appears to be like numerous this time round round

“Old Man Volk” is champion as soon as extra but the division is lots numerous than the one he managed when he was champ from 2019 to 2023. Yes, it has really simply been 2 years, but a take a look at the panorama at 145 further kilos exposes that the division has really seen an overhaul over the earlier 24 months. Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria have really proceeded to the lightweight division and there are brand-new names that weren’t knocking on the door looking for a title battle.

Volkanovski’s preliminary light-weight title regime noticed him make investments over half of his 145-pound title battles versusHolloway Chan Sung Jung has really contemplating that retired whereas Brian Ortega has really handled a 1-3 doc in his earlier 4 battles. This run might be seen as much more troublesome for the reason that 36-year-old will definitely be checked by a brand-new sort of featherweights that include Movsar Evloev, Lerone Murphy and Jean Silva, that created a scorching demolition of Bryce Mitchell on the first card. There are moreover present signees Aaron Pico andPatricio Pitbull And though the final failed versus Yair Rodriguez, it’s not exterior the world of alternative that he features his means up the ladder.

Stylistic matches and the younger individuals of his challengers can provide pretty the hill for Volkanovski to recover from. However, if he handles to make a variety of efficient title defenses, Volkanovski has an opportunity to divide himself from boxers like Holloway and Jos é Aldo as the most effective featherweight in UFC background.

What we do acknowledge is that that is simply one of many inmost, most gifted light-weight departments in present reminiscence. Volkanovski has his job appropriate him, but it can definitely be a reward to see based mostly upon his Saturday effectivity. — Hale

Pimblett is a considerable bother at lightweight, significantly on account of his younger individuals

play

‘What currently?!’ Paddy Pimblett commemorates after controling win

Paddy Pimblett borders Michael Chandler with a flurry of violation and commemorates in electrical fashion within the co-main event of UFC 314.

If this looks as if a backhanded reward, it’s actually not. Pimblett’s skills are official, and he would definitely be a handful for any sort of lightweight in his prime; but the reality he’s falling to the deep finish of the lightweight waters every time when these waters are filled with boxers within the golden of their jobs completely doesn’t harmed.

Pimblett, 30, is for certain, gifted and a particularly unsafe finisher. He has really at present battled Tony Ferguson (41 ), King Green (38) and Chandler (38 ). He’s at present concentrating on Charles Oliveira (35 ), Justin Gaethje (36) and Dustin Poirier (36 ). Again, I’m not taking something removed from Pimblett– but it’s alright to direct this out. He is coming into his prime at the perfect time possible for this division.

If Pimblett can preserve this going, we might be trying out a UFC tremendous star. And permit’s be simple, the sporting exercise requires as plenty of as it could actually remedy at present. The UFC within reason star-starved at present, should you distinction it to varied different ages. That’s intermittent and it’ll occur, and Pimblett might be among the many important boxers to remodel the development.

Pimblett is the real provide; he understands he’s the real provide, and the onslaught of outright awesomes on the extraordinarily main is (primarily) boxers which can be starting to scale back. He has a exceptional chance upfront of him. — Okamoto

A “good” Rodriguez is so useful for this division

The light-weight division stays in a powerful space, but it’s a lot much more intriguing and a lot better with a improbableRodriguez And not merely a improbable Rodriguez, but a terminated up one.

When he will get on, he’s completely nothing besides beautiful. That 2018 ko of “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung within the final secondly was the most effective ko in UFC background– up till Max Holloway knocked mindless Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in 2015. The rotating assaults, the flying assaults, the choke of Josh Emmett for the performing champion at UFC 284 in 2023– Rodriguez can do factors that merely can chorus from doing. His best minutes versus Pitbull on Saturday got here when he was underneath assault and in danger. Rodriguez could be a risk typically, and it would definitely be so welcome if he continually might be one.

Don’t get hold of me incorrect, his losses have really come versus elite ability, but I can’t help but imagine I nonetheless haven’t seen Rodriguez at full throttle. I want to see him psychologically spent, if that’s what it takes. I’d not thoughts seeing him fight Diego Lopes after they went at it all through at this time’s interview. Rodriguez has really been improbable in flashes, but he’s moreover been non-active typically, consisting of when the UFC just about lowered him in 2018. I’m quibbling a bit, but I merely want to see what Rodriguez seems like with a bit little bit of boodle. Just a little little bit of that conceit people implicated him of getting previous to he shed within the UFC for the very first time to Frankie Edgar again in 2017.

The 145-pound division would definitely revenue considerably from thatRodriguez — Okamoto