UFC 333: Volkanovski vs Evloev - Oct 24 🇦🇪

[jimufctna24]

2 hours ago, wandshogun09 said:

Yeah, I think if there was any doubt that Volk is the Featherweight GOAT, that’s gone now. I think that debate is over. The other two in the conversation are Aldo and Holloway and, not only has Volk beat those two head-to-head (three times in the case of Holloway!), I think he’s pretty much outdone what they were able to accomplish during their great title reigns as well. And not just 145, he’s gotta rank high in the overall GOAT convo at this point as well, hasn’t he?

If Volk is indeed now the FW GOAT then he will naturally be a GOAT contender in general. 

Aldo, the previous FW GOAT, usually charts in top 10 all-time lists, sometimes as high as top 5, even top 3. Therefore, if Volk is above Aldo, it stands to reason that he'll be in the GOAT conversation overall. 

I will perhaps compare Volk's record and achievements to Aldo and other greats at a later date when I have the time/motivation. For now, I will post that I have been very high on Volk's ability as a fighter for a long time. Thus, in a "best of all-time" debate I would perhaps be one of Volk's high voters. 

It bugged me that Volk was so close to beating Makhachev the first time they fought. Had one exchange or two gone better for Volk that night then he would have probably won a deserved decision, and arguably have the greatest MMA victory of all-time on his record. 

 

[Dai]

Maybe because its so fresh in the mind, but i don't think its even close between Volk and Aldo with regards to who is the best ever now. Then only question now is where he ranks in the top 5 of all divisions, as i dont think theres even a debate that he shouldn't be in that too. Would be better to compare those fighters rather than Aldo, id say.

[Carbomb]

This is where the whole "GOAT" thing goes off the rails a bit, to my mind. The criteria for judging are nebulous, because it's not really comparing like for like. I don't dispute that Volk has a claim to be the GOAT (though I still think that's probably GSP), but I think it might be overstatement to say it isn't close between him and Aldo. Both have comparable records, both having similar streaks, and both having become two-time FW champs, having regained the belt after losing it to someone who moved up a division. One thing to take into account when discussing Aldo is that he started fighting as a pro when he was 18, so despite being only a couple of years older than Volk, he's got so many more miles on the clock, especially when you take into account he grew up in the favela. 

One of the main issues with Aldo's record is his fighting long past his peak - but then, he was only in his early thirties when his decline started, so it would have been very difficult for the poor sod to accept being put on the scrapheap so soon. But if he'd retired after losing to Volk, or after the second Holloway loss, this conversation might have been very different, I think. As it is, he's got nine more matches than Volk does on his record, most of them losses.

To be clear, I think Volk has nudged him aside for featherweight GOAT, but I don't think he's massively outstripped him yet. Still plenty of time for that to happen, though.

[Dai]

Yeah, there are so many variables that its impossible to compare fighters, moreover when they are different eras.

I would say, without looking in too much detail, that Volk was above Aldo after the Yair fight in 2023 for me. The two Lopes wins and then this one, in his late 30s, bumps him into a different category completely. 

With Aldo, everything after the McGregor humiliation doesn't add to his 'status' at all, and unbelievably he was just 29 when that happened. Youre just left with his WEC run and UFC run, with no late in career excellence.

[jimufctna24]

19 hours ago, Dai said:

With Aldo, everything after the McGregor humiliation doesn't add to his 'status' at all, and unbelievably he was just 29 when that happened. Youre just left with his WEC run and UFC run, with no late in career excellence.

Aldo did beat Edgar in a rematch after the McGregor fight.

Aldo didn't beat any massive names after the Edgar fight, but he did at least adapt his game (calf kick defence, etc), and secure some decent wins (Font, Munoz, etc). I'm a Fedor fanboy, but he's the example of the opposite His game not only stagnated, but also regressed for various reasons late into his career. 

I agree that Volk very much broke the age barrier. I don't think it's that remarkable that Aldo's success diminished in his early-mid 30s (Cruz, McGregor, Mendes, and Dillashaw didn't have many notable wins after they reached 30). I think it's more notable that Volk is still a top fighter in a lighter division in his late 30s. As Carbomb mentioned, Aldo did turn professional at a much earlier age (17 going on 18), whereas Volk was 24 when he turned professional, so I guess you could argue that Aldo accumulated more wear and tear before he turned 30. 

Both Volk and Aldo lost to the two best fighters they fought. Aldo with McGregor and Holloway. Volk with Islam and Topuria. I will add that Volk dealt with Holloway far better than Aldo did. Aldo was far more vulnerable to Holloway's pace and durability than Volk was. Volk's losses are probably a little more forgivable and less damning; moved up in weight against Islam, almost beat Islam the first time, gave Topuria a fight before being stopped, etc. 

I'm just musing really. Both would easily make my top 10 of all-time. Volk probably higher at this time. 

[wandshogun09]

Yeah Volk’s higher for me but Aldo was incredible at his peak. One of those fighters who raised the bar and probably directly led to the next generation upping their game, because they had to.

I think Volk’s nudged past him now though and if he gets his way and gets the crack at Gaethje at 155, and wins, it’s a wrap at that point. Volk moving up and winning a second division’s title, on top of the body of work he already has, would absolutely cement his position at the top of the pile.

We’re talking about two all time greats regardless though. There’s room on the Featherweight Mount Rushmore for both.