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In the lights of the coming rematch between Volkanovksi vs Holloway, I want to take a look at their first fight.
The fight gets often portrayed as boring what I really don't understand.
It was a tactical masterclass by Alex with many defensive highlights.
Let's begin.
The fight gets often portrayed as boring what I really don't understand.
It was a tactical masterclass by Alex with many defensive highlights.
Let's begin.
It was the early story of the fight, after getting some initial reads, Alex started to establish his low kicks.
Most of his set ups started by feinting, constantly switching stances, giving Max many different looks.
Most of his set ups started by feinting, constantly switching stances, giving Max many different looks.
As seen above most of the time when Max tried to push through the kicks, Volk countered him and pushed him back.
Most of the attacks as seen here got initiated by Volk kicking Max lead leg and countering the attack of him.
Most of the attacks as seen here got initiated by Volk kicking Max lead leg and countering the attack of him.
Volk feints with the rear hand, waits for Max's reaction, feints again but with both hands and finishes with a left high kick.
Alex uses feints in two ways, to draw out reactions and set up his own attacks.
The other result of Volk's feints was to disrupt Max's rhythm. The directional changes and stance switches plus the mix in between with jabs and low kicks made Max hesitant to commit early on.
The other result of Volk's feints was to disrupt Max's rhythm. The directional changes and stance switches plus the mix in between with jabs and low kicks made Max hesitant to commit early on.
Volk throws a leg kick and misses but stays defensively responsible, anticipates Max's counter bobs and tries to counter with the left hook to a straight but Max takes the outside angle and avoids to get hit.
Volk has multiple layers of defense, his first layer is to attack Max's lead leg whenever he commits to an attack,even if he misses he will be aware of his positioning and keeps his head of the centerline or uses the high guard to block punches and angles out of follow up strikes
His headmovement is another part of it, he doesn't stay stationary, slips punches and counters with strikes or leg kicks.
There's really no moment in the first rounds where Volk settles at a pace, always staying active and giving Max no room to breath.
There's really no moment in the first rounds where Volk settles at a pace, always staying active and giving Max no room to breath.
The calf kicks were one of the deciding factors and a weapon that Alex used throughout the fight.
He wanted to limit Max's movement, forced him to fight primarily in the southpaw stance and limited Max's offensive options.
He wanted to limit Max's movement, forced him to fight primarily in the southpaw stance and limited Max's offensive options.
Max side kicks but is in a disadvantageous, Alex counters with a left hook over the shoulder and follows up with a 1-2.
By forcing Max to fight in the southpaw stance, he limited his offensive options and made Max's entries more predictable, what helped him not be easily pressured.
He was countering many of Max entries and kept a dominant inside foot position to follow up with his own offense.
He was countering many of Max entries and kept a dominant inside foot position to follow up with his own offense.
Another clever thing during the fight was also to mix up clinch situations or threaten grappling situations like here, catching Max's leg and landing a straight.
It was all about establishing his own attacks while negating Max's offense.
It was all about establishing his own attacks while negating Max's offense.
Max hand fights to gauge the distance but Volk takes a slight step back, changes the distance and slips Max's jab and counters with a lead hook.
There were only a handful attempts like this but Volk used them always really clever when Max started to gain momentum and took some wind out of his sails.
At points as seen above to initiate own attacks but also to negate pressure and slow down the fight at times.
At points as seen above to initiate own attacks but also to negate pressure and slow down the fight at times.
Volkanovksi fought a brilliant fight, some parts of his game can and should be improved to retain the title.
A less static high guard and more awareness to defend the body.
More variety in follow up attacks and building offense behind the jab.
A less static high guard and more awareness to defend the body.
More variety in follow up attacks and building offense behind the jab.
The tactical approach of Volk was almost bulletproof, I reckon that CKB drew the right conclusions out of the first fight and approach the rematch with another tailor made gameplan.
In total the prospects of Max aren't too bright going into the rematch but he has a way to win.
In total the prospects of Max aren't too bright going into the rematch but he has a way to win.
It needs to be mentioned despite a lack of offense for a majority of the fight. Max defensive reactions were mostly right, he avoided many haymakers and counters of Volk and I guess both fighting a really good defensively fight is one reason why this fight gets viewed as boring.
Max had actually early on success with body work. Double jabbing and attacking the body but for whatever reason he stopped it and was too focused on headhunting.
Volk's headmovement was mostly on point so mixing it up and also exploiting his high guard should be one goal.
Volk's headmovement was mostly on point so mixing it up and also exploiting his high guard should be one goal.
Max took more chances later on and swarmed him against the fence, kept him occupied and ripped the body with a well placed right hook.
I think this is the way to go, it's risky but playing the distance game with Volk is dangerous, he can time entries very well and has the tools to frustrate Max.
It's very dangerous because Volk countered him multiple times when Max was more reckless in the pocket exchanges.
It's very dangerous because Volk countered him multiple times when Max was more reckless in the pocket exchanges.
Double jabbing, adding more variety as seen here and mixing it up and especially using more kicks to finish combinations could be a route to success.
Volk really didn't have an answer early or later on during the fight to Max's attacks on his body.
Volk really didn't have an answer early or later on during the fight to Max's attacks on his body.
Volk has also the tendency to duck his head when he's closing the distance, once timed here an intercepting knee well and tried it multiple times.
That's a great way to defuse forward pressure when you get the read on the entries.
That's a great way to defuse forward pressure when you get the read on the entries.
I be honest I've a hard time seeing that Max can make the right adaptations to change the outcome of the rematch.
I'm not even sure that he has the tactical depth to do it. There's a decline in technique and tactic to be seen since the Poirier fight, I'd argue even before.
I'm not even sure that he has the tactical depth to do it. There's a decline in technique and tactic to be seen since the Poirier fight, I'd argue even before.
The Max that fought Pettis and Aldo for the first time can beat Volkanovksi. Fighting a smart outside fight, with a more active kicking game to the legs and body, many directional changes and different angles as a focus on bodywork could be the key to beat Alex.
The current version of Max needs to take risk, force more exchanges and must be willing to put himself in danger. I don't think Max can win against Volk in a strike for strike match, he needs to put a pace on him, what leads to my conclusion.
It's a controversial prediction and I hate to write it but I think Max will get finished later on by Volkanovksi.
He needs to take risks and that will leave him open for counters, I have the feeling because Volk tagged him multiple times late that he could find his chin.
He needs to take risks and that will leave him open for counters, I have the feeling because Volk tagged him multiple times late that he could find his chin.
I know it's controversial and Max has an ATG so it could likely end similar as in the first fight.
Nonetheless I'll root with all my heart for Max and him winning would be one if not the greatest comeback in the history of the UFC.
Nonetheless I'll root with all my heart for Max and him winning would be one if not the greatest comeback in the history of the UFC.
I totally forgot it almost, a big shutout to @N_finiteRegress because the discussions with her made me rewatch the fight and her conclusions helped me making this thread.
