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 presently 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 varied this time round round

“Old Man Volk” is champion as soon as extra but the division is lots varied than the one he managed when he was champ from 2019 to 2023. Yes, it has truly simply been 2 years, but a try the panorama at 145 further kilos exposes that the division has truly seen an overhaul over the earlier 24 months. Max Holloway and Ilia Topuria have truly 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 truly contemplating that retired whereas Brian Ortega has truly handled a 1-3 doc in his earlier 4 battles. This run will be considered as much more troublesome for the reason that 36-year-old will definitely be checked by a brand-new sort of featherweights that encompass 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 outdoors the world of alternative that he capabilities his means up the ladder.

Stylistic matches and the younger individuals of his challengers can supply pretty the hill for Volkanovski to recover from. However, if he handles to make quite a few 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’s going to definitely be a reward to see primarily based upon his Saturday effectivity. — Hale

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

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

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

If this looks like a backhanded reward, it’s actually not. Pimblett’s skills are official, and he will surely 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 truly presently battled Tony Ferguson (41 ), King Green (38) and Chandler (38 ). He’s presently focusing 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 getting into his prime at the easiest time possible for this division.

If Pimblett can preserve this going, we will be testing a UFC tremendous star. And permit’s be easy, the sporting exercise requires as a lot of as it could possibly remedy presently. The UFC within reason star-starved presently, in case you distinction it to numerous different ages. That’s intermittent and it’ll occur, and Pimblett will be among the many important boxers to remodel the development.

Pimblett is the real supply; he understands he’s the real supply, and the onslaught of outright awesomes on the extraordinarily main is (primarily) boxers which are starting to cut back. He has a exceptional chance prematurely 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 implausibleRodriguez And not merely a implausible 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 appearing 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 below assault and in danger. Rodriguez could be a menace generally, and it will surely be so welcome if he continually will be one.

Don’t receive me incorrect, his losses have truly come versus elite talent, 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 might not thoughts seeing him fight Diego Lopes after they went at it all through right this moment’s interview. Rodriguez has truly been implausible in flashes, but he’s moreover been non-active generally, consisting of when the UFC just about decreased him in 2018. I’m quibbling a little bit, but I merely want to see what Rodriguez seems like with a little bit little bit of boodle. A little bit 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 will surely revenue considerably from thatRodriguez — Okamoto