5 UFC fighters who could dethrone Alexander Volkanovski

#2. Max Holloway – Has already fought Alexander Volkanovski twice, came close both times

Who is the UFC featherweight GOAT?

Jose Aldo reigned over the 145-pound weight class for a very long time before being beaten by Max Holloway twice. Holloway held the belt for two years before suffering a somewhat similar fate to the former titleholder, Aldo.

The Hawaiian champion was dethroned at UFC 245 in 2019 by Alexander Volkanovski, who skillfully outpointed 'Blessed' to earn a unanimous decision victory and a rematch was subsequently booked for UFC 251 in 2020.

In their rematch, Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway engaged in yet another closely-contested affair. The Hawaiian clearly won the first two rounds, dropping the Australian champion twice. However, Volkanovski turned the tide later on, clearly outstriking Holloway in the final two rounds. The third frame was a tight affair and could’ve gone either way.

Strip away all the debates as to who won both bouts, and one thing becomes apparent – They are so evenly matched. Arguably, Volkanovski might just have Holloway’s number.

However, it wouldn't be fair to rule out Max Holloway's chances against Alexander Volkanovski. Holloway is one of the best volume strikers in MMA, having broken numerous striking records in his storied career so far.

Moreover, he is seemingly in the best form of his life at the moment. Following the back-to-back decision losses to Volkanovski, Holloway produced two incredible performances inside the octagon. He obliterated Calvin Kattar in January 2021 and picked up another win ten months later, against Yair Rodriguez.

Holloway is an incredibly smart and experienced fighter, and after spending 50 minutes in the cage with the reigning champion already, he will certainly be aware of what he needs to do to reclaim his throne. A trilogy bout between the featherweight duo is inevitable. With no clear No.1 contender in the division at the moment other than 'Blessed', expect them to lock horns in the near future.

---

#1. Zabit Magomedsharipov – The worst stylistic matchup for Alexander Volkanovski

Perhaps the toughest matchup for Alexander Volkanovski in the featherweight division is none other than Zabit Magomedsharipov. UFC fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the Russian, who's been out of action since his unanimous decision victory over Calvin Kattar in 2019.

Earlier this year, his coach Mark Henry revealed that the Russian's return shouldn't be too far away.

Mark Henry's tweet concerning Zabit Magomedsharipov [Image via @xBUZZYB3ARx on Twitter]

Magomedsharipov is a very unique fighter. He has sensational striking skills and throws wild kicks with no hesitation as he isn't afraid of being taken down. If he is taken down, the dynamic Dagestani is a lethal submission specialist and has a plethora of finishes on his record.

It wouldn't be wise to throw Magomedsharipov straight into the deep end upon his return. An immediate title shot against Alexander Volkanovski is out of the question as the Russian lost his spot in the rankings as a result of his extended hiatus. However, a win over a top contender could see him take on the reigning champion soon after.

Watch a compilation of Zabit Magomedsharipov's highlights below:

If and when he does eventually lock horns with Alexander Volkanovski, Zabit Magomedsharipov has a real chance of dethroning the Australian champion. The Russian will have a distinct size and reach advantage over 'The Great'. His devastating kicks will prove to be a real problem for Volkanovski, who'll be at a disadvantage on the mat as well.

Also, there's clearly something special about fighters from Dagestan. Those who have fought the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev have unilaterally described the incredible toughness that is built into the fighters from the caucauses. This is evident in all of their impeccable professional records.

While Volkanovski is worthy of championship status, Magomedsharipov could emerge as the new long-reigning titleholder at 145 pounds.