The MMA Daily

The co-main event comes in the Featherweight division, as the Champion Alexander Volkanovski takes on the former champion Max Holloway. Coming into this fight as the number two ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Volkanovski has an opportunity to improve his chances at leapfrogging Kamaru Usman. A winner of twenty-one straight, eleven of which have come inside the octagon, Volkanovski is beginning to develop an unbeatable aura. Meanwhile, Holloway comes into this fight off back-to-back wins over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez. Having regained steam, Holloway seems destined to finally one-up Volkanovski.

Usually the UFC puts the higher weight classes at the top of the pecking order. However, in some instances they don’t. No disrespect to Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier, but this trilogy should be the main event. Guaranteed to not disappoint, we have two top-six pound-for-pound fighters squaring off. Volkanovski being number two, has been an absolute juggernaut in the Featherweight division. A well rounded fighter, with nearly no holes in his game, Volkanovski has proven that he has a plethora of ways to defeat his opponents. Of late though, it’s been by sheer dominance. Knocking out Chan Sung Jung in a romp, and battering Brian Ortega for twenty-five minutes, Volkanovski comes into this trilogy arguably on another level. One that Holloway will look prove is not on his. A striker, with refined abilities everywhere but offensive wrestling, Holloway is one of the best fighters we’ve ever seen in MMA. Backed by endless cardio, Holloway has an uncanny ability to rack up strikes. Which is evident by the fact that he is the UFC’s all-time strikes leader. Eclipsing 94 strikes in his last eleven fights, with one fights total being 445, Holloway is not someone many win going toe-to-toe with.

This fight is bound to be exciting and might even be close again. However, I believe Volkanovski is going to close this chapter. Having seen the Aussie look as sharp as ever, he heads into this third fight with momentum and immense confidence. With an ability to mix up his attack, he will have the upper hand in swaying the judges. Given Holloway has never been stopped via strikes, I predict that Volkanovski will win via decision.