“This shot would’ve knocked out a horse” – INCREDIBLE close-up image of Alexander Volkanovski’s face changing after Ilia Topuria’s right hand has fans in awe

Ilia Topuria defeated Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC 298 fight card via Knockout.

“This shot would’ve knocked out a horse” – INCREDIBLE close-up image of Alexander Volkanovski’s face changing after Ilia Topuria’s right hand has fans in awe

Ilia Topuria defeated Alexander Volkanovsk at UFC 298 (Source: Instagram/IMAGO)

As a fight fan, are you a pro-Alexander Volkanovski believer? Or would you side with 15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC undefeated champ, Ilia Topuria? The MMA world is similarly divisive between them. Two-fight veteran and WWE star, CM Punk defends the UFC star despite a sensational knockout skid. Play-by-play coverage personality, Laura Sanko still considers the Aussie as the greatest featherweight of all time. But not all feel the same.

Appearing on the ‘JAXXON‘ Podcast, TJ Dillashaw noted that Volkanovski lost the featherweight title as he kept leaning away from his power. Even Demetrious Johnson has nudged that Ilia Topuria will be a bad rematch potential as he would sleep Volk yet again, attributing to his patience and power. One would wonder that these assessments are exaggerating; one would be wrong.

YouTube video

A new snapshot (reposted by @goathje) on X shows a powerful right hand on Volkanovski’s face, showcasing the differentiation in power. The high-definition imagery details the distorted face of the former champ as he is up against the cage. Topuria had begun with a boxing-heavy stance. But in Round 2, answering some kicks and stiff jabs, he resorted to a swarm of strikes.

FS Video

While a left shot sealed the deal, this right-hand shot was powerful as well. The caption famously reads – “This shot would’ve knocked out a horse.” By the 3:32 mark of Round 2, it was all over for Alexander Volkanovski, who consequently could not reel from the power punches for quite a few moments after. The matter has garnered many responses.

Fight fans react to imagery of a powerful right hand, from Ilia Topuria to Alexander Volkanovski

UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) took place at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Ilia Topuria defeated Alexander Volkanovski via KO (punches) to bag the featherweight title gold. Consequently, the Spaniard became the first ever from his nationality, and 5th ever featherweight titleholder.

Ilia Topuria had an array of powerful shots up his sleeve
Ilia Topuria had an array of powerful shots up his sleeve (Source: UFC.go.com/Twitter)

After the title affair, many fans, peers, MMA enthusiasts, and pundits have noted the difference in power between the duo. Topuria wasn’t risking anything in the first round and patiently sprawled around. Answering a good jab and ranged kicks under the torso from the opponent, he opened up a barrage of power shots. One such shot subsequently caught Volkanovski off guard and knocked him down.

But it is the matter of a preceding right-hand shot that has fans piqued. And here’s how they have reacted to it –

https://twitter.com/VincenzoPala/status/1760691834295390509?s=20

Fans have accordingly sounded off on Topuria’s prowess and optimal use of musculature to connect the shots. Many have also labeled the snapshot as one for the history books. Some have drawn attention to Volkanovski’s face wobble, comparing it to the former case of Tony Ferguson. Which in itself was a famed affair and a meme.

A few others have also notably posted a shot of Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, who had quite a squeamish reaction to the beatdown.

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