Joe Rogan was surprised he didn’t get to see Alexander Volkanovski exit the Octagon after clinching his second UFC title three years ago.
The reigning featherweight champion is gearing up to defend his title this Saturday at UFC 325, headlining the event in Sydney, where he will make the first defense of his second reign at 145 pounds.
Volkanovski will face Diego Lopez once again, putting on hold any talk of retirement following his victory over Lopez just 10 months ago in Miami.
Widely regarded as the greatest featherweight of all time, the Australian fighter boasts an impressive MMA career—but has yet to capture the coveted second division belt, an honor many believe he deserves.
From Joe Rogan’s perspective, Volkanovski was unjustly denied this recognition…
Joe Rogan Believes Alexander Volkanovski Outperformed Islam Makhachev at UFC 284
Having successfully defended his featherweight title four times, Volkanovski earned an opportunity to become a two-division champion when he faced then-new lightweight champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 in Perth in early 2023.
Their highly anticipated matchup was one of the best fights of the year, lasting the full five rounds. Makhachev won via unanimous decision, a verdict that sparked debate among MMA fans and analysts alike.
Joe Rogan was among those who strongly disagreed with the judges’ decision.
“I think he (Makhachev) lost that fight,” Rogan said during an episode of the Fight Companion podcast alongside Brendan Schaub, Eddie Bravo, and Brian Callen.
“We were considering a review, and I don’t believe we were biased.”
“To me, it was 3-2 in favor of Volkanovski. The crowd’s reaction says it all. One of the scorecards was outrageous. It’s frustrating. We were watching, chatting, having drinks, and it looked like he took three rounds.”
Rogan wasn’t alone—fighter Nate Diaz and numerous fans also believed Volkanovski deserved the win in that lightweight showdown.
Volkanovski Eyes Third Lightweight Title Shot After UFC 325
Following his second loss to Makhachev at UFC 294, many doubted Volkanovski’s chances of becoming a two-weight UFC champion.
However, ahead of his UFC 325 rematch with Lopez, Volkanovski indicated he still has plans to pursue further success in the lightweight division.
“Being champion is a responsibility I take seriously,” Volkanovski told 10 News in December.
“I recognize talented fighters in my division and don’t want to remain inactive there. I’ll do what I need to do, and after Sydney, maybe I’ll take another shot at an undefeated guy.”
“If that happens, then a champion versus champion fight makes perfect sense,” he added.
Fan Take:
This update is significant for fight fans because it highlights Volkanovski’s relentless pursuit of greatness across multiple weight classes, challenging the boundaries of the sport. His career trajectory could redefine the PPE legacy of UFC champions and ignite fresh, high-stakes matchups that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
