Mixed Martial Arts / Boxing Thread

[Risto the Great]

Can the Volk do it?

[Soldier of Macedon]

This is viewed as the toughest fight of his whole career. If he wins it will propel him into legendary status because these Russian Dagestani fighters have an aura of invincibility about them, especially his opponent on Sunday who is considered the heir of the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Few of the punters are giving Alex a chance. But he appears genuinely confident that he can get the job done. I'd expect the pubs and bars in Australia that are screening this event to be full on Sunday and many local Macedonians will turn out like they have on previous occasions. Here is a clip of Alex after he arrived in Perth to perform a training demonstration for the public, taking a selfie with some Macedonian kids. Go champ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNck...Yg9qkw&index=2

[Risto the Great]

He is facing a formidable opponent. He has gone up a weight category to compete. He is a true warrior and has nothing to lose. Fingers crossed!

[Risto the Great]

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8PXfr7E/

That height difference though ...

[Soldier of Macedon]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8PXfr7E/

That height difference though ...

Alex is 168cm. Makachev is 178cm. A substantial difference, but when looking at Alex's last three opponents, two were 175cm and the other was 180cm. He has always been the shorter guy. Alex's stature and lower centre of gravity may actually work to his advantage if he plays it right. The real question is how he handles the wrestling and submission attempts by Makachev. On paper, it seems a monumental task, but Alex's tenacity in the fight against Ortega shows that he has the ability to get out of tough situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHbXsQwsTNg

[Vangelovski]

The advantage/disadvantage of a height difference is mostly psychological I reckon, unless it's so ridiculously large that the shorter fighter can't reach their opponent's head. Mike Tyson, for example, is 178 cm (same as Rocky Marciano) - much shorter than a lot of his opponents. I remember watching an interview with him where he was saying he never realised he was the shorter fighter because he never really thought about it. Probably even less of an issue in UFC.

[Risto the Great]

Makachev uses his reach quite well. That is always an advantage. Volk is a powerhouse who will find a way to get in hopefully. It's quite the ultimate fighting challenge.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

He is facing a formidable opponent. He has gone up a weight category to compete. He is a true warrior and has nothing to lose. Fingers crossed!

I’ve seen a heap of clips on YouTube in the lead up to this fight where this question of going up in weight has come up…many pundits were saying that Volk should be fine with that because of when he played rugby, the pundits thought he could wear the extra weight easily and he could be better for it because he played his rugby at a much heavier weight…and Volkanovski himself says that in his entire sporting life he’s been underestimated because of his stature but those estimations quickly change after his opponents get punched in the face…lol 🥳

[Risto the Great]

His jab is fast and it makes incredible distance. Apparently Volk was something like 100kg when he was playing rugby. To be fighting at 66kg, I think his muscles would have a memory of that former size. Unless Makhachev locks him up, I think Volk will win.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Vangelovski

The advantage/disadvantage of a height difference is mostly psychological I reckon, unless it's so ridiculously large that the shorter fighter can't reach their opponent's head. Mike Tyson, for example, is 178 cm (same as Rocky Marciano) - much shorter than a lot of his opponents. I remember watching an interview with him where he was saying he never realised he was the shorter fighter because he never really thought about it. Probably even less of an issue in UFC.

Tyson was a freak of nature, his power, his hand speed, his technique and his fighting psychology...Tyson is the exception not the rule.

Reach matters if all other attributes are considered the same but not all attributes and not all fighters are the same because this little issue of skill always stands in the way.

Fighters with long limbs in UFC have pros and cons that a skilful opponent will exploit to their advantage...when the fight is on the ground the grappling, wrestling and jiu jitsu skills come to the fore...the biomechanics of long limbs (levers) comes into play...it can work in your favour or to your detriment.