Alexander Volkanovski has done it.
The Australian icon has emphatically defended his UFC featherweight title with a second-round TKO beatdown of the previously undefeated Movsar Evloev in Abu Dhabi.
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The 38-year old’s win in Abu Dhabi might be his finest hour, with a contest tipped to be tight and intense ended in remarkable fashion.
Volkanovski gave Evloev a taste of his own medicine with the move that earned him the title challenge – the ground and pound.
After flooring the Russian with a series of heavy hits, the veteran had the hapless Evloev at his mercy on the floor before the referee called a halt with just six seconds left for the round.
“That’s unreal,” Paul Felder said on commentary.
“One of the greatest of all time!” was Jon Anik’s verdict – and it’s impossible to disagree.
Former fighter Daniel Cormier described the fight as a “shut out, a no-hitter”, with a minor face cut the only damage the victor received.
For Volkanovski, the best part was making good on a promise to wife Emma that the fight would be a “quick one” to save her from worrying.
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“It feels good to get a finish. I promised the missus, it was our wedding anniversary on Wednesday, I promised her a quick one so she wouldn’t be stressing on the sideline,” he said.
“I knew there wasn’t long, and I was just like, land that one big shot that hurts him. And I landed it.
“I knew the ref would have to stop it when he covered up like that.”
Volkanovski had nothing but praise for Evloev, whose 20-0 record heading in had earned him a shot at the champion.
Though not without a slightly cheeky self-correction.
“He’s a great fighter, he’s undef- he was undefeated for a reason,” the champion said.
“I just said I’m the right guy for that job.”
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It was widely expected that a defeat would end Volkanovski’s Hall of Fame-worthy career in the Octagon.
But victory – let alone in the style that he achieved in Abu Dhabi – can surely keep the flame flickering for a while yet.
“To be able to do what I’m doing in this sport, and choose to do it – I said if I didn’t take too much damage, we’ll probably keep going. So maybe we keep going!”
Evloev, meanwhile, was nothing but gracious in defeat – and in awe of Volkanovski’s achievement.
He was scathing, however, of his own performance, saying he’d put in a “terrible fight” in his long-awaited chance to show his wares in a main event.
“He’s like good wine, older, stronger, better,” the Russian said of his opponent.
“He’s truly a legend. He’s still good.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to be here. I didn’t prove that I’m the best. Maybe I’ll try again, I need to go home, rest, recover my injuries.
“Alex, great champion and I’m glad to be here to share the cake with him.
“Better to lose to a guy like him than to somebody who’s not good like him.”
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‘GIVE ME KING KONG’: CHAMP DEFENDS TITLE IN EPIC
Volkanovski wasn’t the only UFC great to defend their title.
It took Petr Yan significantly longer in a blockbuster rematch with bitter rival Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event, but the 33-year old powered home with an outstanding fifth round to win a tense encounter to retain his bantamweight crown.
The win sees Yan edge 2-1 ahead in his rapidly emerging rivalry with Dvalishvili, with all three of their fights having gone the distance.
After the contender made much of the early going with a series of heavy hits, a third-round liver kick from Yan proved a key turning point in the fight.
“He’s a maniac,” Anik said as the blow visibly rocked Dvalishvili.
Speaking post-fight, Yan said he knew going into the fifth and final round that the epic encounter would go right to the final moments.
“I was listening to my coach and he said look we’re going to a fifth round, it’s 2-2. You win the fifth round, you take the fight,” he said.
“I needed to take all the time for him to lose all of his power to take the fight.”
When asked about his future plans in the Octagon, Yan was just as emphatic.
“I am the champion of this organisation, I do not pick fights,” he said.
“This organisation puts the next contender in front of me, and I’m ready to fight with any of them.
“Give me King Kong – give me anybody! Just make the weight and I’ll take you down!”
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