Although Alexander Volkanovski will enter his title fight against Elijah Topuria as the favorite, a previous loss against Islam Makhachev could take a toll on the reigning UFC featherweight champion’s mental attitude, according to the Australian’s compatriot, Robert Whittaker.
“It’s a difficult question because it’s unknown how the previous defeat affected him,” MMAnews quoted the former UFC middleweight champion as saying. “Before the loss to Makhachev, Wolf looked like he was unstoppable – no one doubted him. There was no one who was close to beating him, but after a loss like the fight against Makhachev, I don’t even know. Psychology is a big part of the fight world and the fight game”
On Oct. 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, Alex Volkanovski made a second unsuccessful attempt to take the lightweight championship belt from Islam Makhachev, losing to the Russian by first-round knockout, and on Feb. 17 at UFC 298, the Australian will defend his featherweight title against undefeated fifth-ranked Elijah Topuria.
Source: https://fighttime.ru/news/item/33217-uittaker-somnevaetsya-v-volkanovski-pered-boem-s-topuriej.html?rand=19907
