Joe Rogan crowns Alexander Volkanovski as GOAT after impressive comeback win at 36

UFC veteran Joe Rogan calls Alexander Volkanovski one of the greatest fighters of all time after his recent title win against Diego Lopes at UFC 314.

Joe Rogan crowns Alexander Volkanovski as GOAT after impressive comeback win at 36

Joe Rogan believes Alexander Volkanovski has achieved GOAT status after winning at UFC 314 (via Imago)

Alexander Volkanovski recently shocked everyone by becoming a two-time UFC featherweight champion after reclaiming the belt with unmatched determination. ‘The Great’ dismantled young title contender Diego Lopes and won the incredibly intense championship fight via unanimous decision. Following the win, Volk has greatly impressed the likes of respected UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

Rogan has always been a huge fan of Volkanovski and regularly praised him during many of his popular podcasts. However, he had never mentioned the Aussie superstar in the elite league of GOAT fighters until after witnessing UFC 314. In a recent podcast episode with hilarious comedian Joey Diaz, Rogan shared his newfound respect for Volkanovski’s greatness and achievements.

That was a fight I really wanted to see because I really wanted to see if Volkanovski could pull it off. All-time great featherweight champion. One of the, for sure, greatest fighters of all time.

Joe Rogan via JRE #2309

Going into the fight, there were various narratives against Volkanovski, given his age and back-to-back knockout losses. Many experts believed a loss would have taken the Aussie fighter away from the title picture for a long time. On top of that, his opponent, Lopes was in a red-hot form and was the fan favorite to win the bout.

However, against all odds, Volkanovski put on an impressive performance and outstruck Lopes in the bout. Despite being 36 years old, his cardio looked absolutely incredible when compared to the younger Brazilian, who appeared confused throughout. The jab from Volkanovski was right on the money, consistently keeping a dangerous brawler like Lopes in perfect check all night.

After winning the bout, Volkanovski became the first fighter over 35 years old in the lower weight classes to reclaim the UFC gold. It was definitely one of the biggest comebacks in recent years, earning him the respect of fellow talented fighters. Going forward, it would be interesting to see what’s next for the newly crowned as he defends his belt.

Alexander Volkanovski’s first potential title defense in second reign 

Alexander Volkanovski’s previous title reign was extremely dominating and incredibly entertaining for the MMA community around the world. The Aussie fighter ran through the division impressively and faced elite contenders like Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez, and Brian Ortega with ease. This time, Volk has promised that he will remain as active as before and strongly reprise the featherweight division again.

Alexander Volkanovski's upcoming challenger
Alexander Volkanovski’s upcoming challenger (via X)

Going forward, there are some big names in the division who are eager to fight Volkanovski for the title. This includes Jean Silva, Rodriguez, and Movsar Evloev, who are in great form and have the potential to dethrone the champion. In a recent interview, Evloev talked about potentially fighting Volkanovski and shared his game plan against the legendary champion.

I can promise them that I’m not gonna take down him if they give me a title shot. I’m not gonna go there first. If they try to take me down, okay, I’ll accept this. But I’ll just go straight striking. So, let’s see…I’ll just push him to the wall. So, [I] don’t let him run from me, don’t let him move. Then, he has to exchanging with me. He will tire or I’ll break him. Because I know that I have bigger power, better wrestling.

Movsar Evloev via Overdogs Podcast 

Evloev is undefeated in his professional career and riding a nine-fight win streak in the UFC. The fighter has gone past top featherweights such as Arnold Allen and Aljamain Sterling. As such, the Russian fighter believed he was the rightful contender. However, he has recently accused the UFC of keeping him away from Volkanovski. It would be interesting to see whether he gets the next shot or not. 

Related: UFC Top 5 ‘Knockouts of the Year’ 2024