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Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski are destined to meet again.
Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by unanimous decision at UFC 284, winning three of the five rounds. But he was tested in an altogether manner by Volkanovski.
Makhachev’s last seven opponents combined to land 75 significant strikes; Volkanovski finished their bout with 70 significant strikes. Makhachev had never fought beyond the fourth round; Volkanovski took him the distance for a full five rounds. And the fifth round ended with Volkanovski on top and hammering Makhachev. This was not an ordinary Makhachev fight, even if it ended in the same victorious fashion.
Now Makhachev and Volkanovski have to go back to making quick work of their opponents. Volkanovski will be matched up against newly crowned interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez, while Makhachev is most likely to see Dustin Poirier, Beneil Dariush, or Charles Oliveira. If both fighters continue to dominate their respective divisions, then the only fight left to make will be a rematch.
It is always dangerous to wait too long for a rematch. Between injuries, title changes, and new emerging opponents, there are too many variables working against it. If Makhachev and Volkanovski both win their next fight in convincing fashion, then hopefully they will have a rematch before the end of 2023.
Erin Blanchfield Set for Major Test on Saturday
Erin Blanchfield has a new opponent for Saturday night in Jéssica Andrade.
Andrade replaces Taila Santos, the number-one ranked flyweight who withdrew due to personal reasons. It now becomes an entirely new challenge for Blanchfield, a 23-year-old riding a seven-fight win streak. Ranked tenth in the flyweight division, Blanchfield is coming off a complete domination of Molly McCann from this past November, but the third-ranked Andrade is a former strawweight champion with incredible striking prowess. She represents a challenge that Blanchfield has yet to encounter.
Blanchfield’s strength is on the ground. Whether she can strike with Andrade is the great unknown for this bout. If she can unveil some improved striking, this could be a perfect matchup for her.
This is Blanchfield’s chance to be fast-tracked to the top of the flyweight division. If she can defeat Andrade in impressive fashion, there is reason to believe her next bout will be for the title.
Jon Jones Reflects on Chandler Jones’ Superb Play
Last night’s Super Bowl took place in Glendale, Arizona at State Farm Stadium. This was the venue’s third-ever Super Bowl, and though it ended with a dubious defensive holding call, it was an otherwise phenomenal game that ended with the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-35.
The last time a Super Bowl was held in Glendale was nine years ago, when the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks in a thrilling game that went down to the wire. A key component of that victory was defensive end Chandler Jones, who is the younger brother of MMA great Jon Jones.
Chandler Jones was not part of this year’s championship game, but he did make the most outrageous play of the entire season this past December when he intercepted a pass and then scored a game-winning touchdown for his current team, the Las Vegas Raiders.
And Chandler Jones did it, fittingly, against his former team–Bill Belichick’s Patriots.
“Doing it against his former team made it that much better," Jones says. “Chandler’s a pretty laid-back guy. He likes being back home and out of the limelight. But he’s had a great journey, and that play was great for him.”
In the waning moments of a tied game, the Patriots and Raiders appeared headed to overtime. The Patriots ran one last play, a handoff to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed for 23 yards. Stevenson then surprised everyone by tossing a lateral to wide receiver Jakobi Meyers–and if Stevenson’s decision was unexpected, it paled in comparison to what unfolded.
In an attempt to score a game-winning touchdown, Meyers threw a pass to the middle of the field, where Chandler Jones was intercepted it. Jones returned the ball 48 yards, steamrolling Pats quarterback Mac Jones in the process, reaching the end zone and providing the Raiders with a rare highlight amid a tumultuous season.
“When that happened, I’m sure Coach Belichick missed having him at that moment,” says Jones. “He wanted him back in that red, white, and blue.”
