Daniel Cormier explains how Alex Volkanovski is still atop the pound-for-pound rankings despite Islam Makhachev loss
Daniel Cormier has addressed Alex Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev's respective spots in the UFC's latest pound-for-pound rankings. Presently, the UFC's official rankings have Volkanovski leading the men's pound-for-pound list at No.1, whereas Makhachev stands at No.2.
On that note, Cormier explained why Volkanovski is still ranked No.1 on the pound-for-pound list despite losing to the No.2-ranked Makhachev earlier this month. UFC 284, which took place on February 12, witnessed UFC lightweight champion Makhachev putting his title on the line against UFC featherweight champion Volkanovski.
Their back-and-forth lightweight title matchup saw Makhachev win via unanimous decision. However, many believed that Volkanovski was more deserving of the judges' nod in the closely contested fight.
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@MAKHACHEVMMA has defeated Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision! π #UFC284 https://t.co/EStmvgpwha
In the latest edition of ESPN MMA's DC & RC podcast, MMA legend and former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier pointed out that as per the judges' official verdict, Islam Makhachev did defeat Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284.
That said, 'DC' indicated that Alex Volkanovski was the one who moved up a weight class and proved that his fighting skills translate between weight classes. Expounding upon why Volkanovski retained his No.1 pound-for-pound spot despite the loss against Islam Makhachev, Cormier stated:
"I also said on SportsCenter after the fight, I said, 'Hey, there's a world in which, at the end of this, Volkanovski could still be the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.'"
He added:
"Because pound-for-pound says, 'Does your fighting style translate between weight classes?' It showed on Saturday that [Volkanovski's] fighting style does translate between weight classes... The new rankings come out today. And guess who's still No.1 pound-for-pound? Alexander Volkanovski, even though he lost."
Watch Cormier discuss the topic at 12:08 in the video below:
Alex Volkanovski believes Islam Makhachev didn't do enough to take his UFC pound-for-pound throne
It's believed that UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski could return to his weight class to face newly crowned interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez next. However, a potential Volkanovski-Rodriguez matchup hasn't been officially announced yet. Additionally, Volkanovski has suggested that he'd like an immediate rematch against Islam Makhachev instead.
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Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Alex Volkanovski jibed at Islam Makhachev and claimed that the Dagestani fighter didn't do enough to dethrone him as the UFC's No.1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter. Volkanovski added that he'd squash Makhachev if they were to fight at featherweight and that he'd beat him at any weight:
"Pound-for-pound, again, I don't want to be that guy but, you know, I still think I proved that I'm the better fighter and I'm pound-for-pound No.1, but that's not up to me." [2:39:29 - 2:39:41]
Watch Volkanovski's interview with Helwani below: