Dustin Poirier hails Alexander Volkanovski as the greatest featherweight to ever do it.
The former UFC Featherweight Champion returns this weekend in an effort to make more history at UFC 314. In the five round main event, his 10th-consecutive title fight, Alexander Volkanovski battles #3 contender Diego Lopes.
Lopes is six years younger, 5-1 in the UFC and the Brazilian nearly submitted the undefeated Movsar Evloev in his UFC debut less than two years ago.
Aside from The Korean Zombie, Volkanovski, 36, has fought younger opponents all throughout his legendary title reign, which ended at the hands of Ilia Topuria by KO at UFC 298 last year.
Dustin Poirier says Alexander Volkanovski featherweight ‘GOAT’ regardless of UFC 314 result
Five title defenses and one title unification under his belt, former UFC interim lightweight champion (and a former featherweight himself) Dustin Poirier labels Volkanovski the featherweight ‘GOAT’ win or lose against Lopes.
“Reclaiming the throne is huge in his career, but his career is set,” Poirier called Volkanovski the greatest featherweight of all time on Good Guy / Bad Guy.
“The things he’s done in the featherweight division, a win or a loss doesn’t change what he’s done.
“His track record, his championship, he’s a legend regardless,” Poirier said.
What Dustin Poirier loves about Alexander Volkanovski
Volkanovski’s overall ‘track record’ rivals that of the legendary Jose Aldo and other former featherweight champions like Max Holloway and Conor McGregor, who Dustin Poirier both beat twice.
Aldo has seven successful title defenses, nine if you include WEC. Aldo went undefeated for 10 years with wins over Frankie Edgar (x2), Chad Mendes (x2), The Korean Zombie, Urijah Faber and many more.
Volkanovski doesn’t have as many title defenses as Aldo but the level of competition he has faced since knocking out Chad Mendes is pretty surreal: Jose Aldo, Max Holloway (x3), Brian Ortega, The Korean Zombie, Yair Rodriguez and Ilia Topuria.
‘Alexander The Great’ continues to add on to his stacked resume with Diego Lopes.
“He’s a real fighter,” Poirier said of Alexander Volkanovski’s willingness to fight anyone.
“The guys like that, I really appreciate in the sport.
“This guy is coming off some tough fights, and he’s jumping in there with a young lion who’s on a streak, headlining Miami. [Volkanovski] threw himself into the fire again. That’s what I love about him.”
