UFC 245: Holloway vs Volkanovski Preview & Prediction

UFC 245: Holloway vs Volkanovski Preview & Prediction

By Alex Conway

It’s tempting to think that the short and stocky challenger Alexander Volkanovski has a reach disadvantage against the featherweight king Max Holloway, but that would be incorrect.

At 71” to Holloway’s 67”, Volkanovski is deceptively capable at keeping his opponents right where he wants them.

This is the most intriguing part of the fight for me. Holloway is a distance master. Few dictate the spacial parameters of where in the Octagon a fight takes place or has a better gauge of getting to just the right spot to throw just the right weapon from the correct range than Holloway.

But Volkanovski’s game is entirely built on deception. You would think he’s a wrestler from his build, but then you see what he did to Aldo using inside leg kicks to keep Aldo from circling defensively and eventually point fighting his way to a tactical win over one of the best tacticians in the history of the sport.

Despite the above paragraphs, I’d still give the edge to Holloway in the striking department. He can switch game plans mid-fight better than almost anyone and his ability to download an opponent and make reads is his greatest asset.

The grappling for Volkanovski is the x-factor. While Holloway has faced wrestlers (Edgar, Lamas) has the youth and prime factor on his side that those guys didn’t. If he chooses to wrestle, I like his chances along the fence line where he can push Holloway to the cage and make him work.

This disruption could keep Holloway on defense longer than the champ is accustomed too, but I’m still picking Holloway for the win. But don’t be shocked in the slightest if Volkanovski joins his City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya as a UFC champion Saturday night.