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Volkanovski was undefeated since 2013 with four UFC featherweight title defenses to his credit when he challenged Makhachev for the lightweight title for the first time in 2023. “The Great” suffered a hard-fought unanimous decision loss against Makhachev at UFC 284. Volkanovski rebounded with another featherweight title defense against Yair Rodriguez before challenging Makhachev again. Makhachev knocked Volkanovski out with a brutal head kick in their rematch at UFC 294.
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Despite the vicious knockout, Volkanovski waited hardly four months before putting his featherweight title on the line against Ilia Topuria in February 2024. Topuria dethroned Volkanovski with yet another savage knockout at UFC 298.
According to Volkanovski, the Makhachev knockout had more serious symptoms, although the Topuria one looked scarier. The Australian admits that he should have waited longer after his knockout against Makhachev before returning to action.
Volkanovski: Makhachev KO More Damaging Than Topuria
“Feel like I had more of a concussion from the Islam one,” Makhachev told Demetrious Johnson. “Even though I was knocked out longer with Ilia, I had a lot more of the symptoms in the Islam one… So when you’re easing into it, making sure you’re not getting hit, trying to put yourself in a safer position… I should have had a break.”
Topuria defended his featherweight title against Max Holloway before moving up to lightweight, where he won the vacant title against Charles Oliveira last month. Meanwhile, Volkanovski won the vacant 145-pound strap against Diego Lopes at UFC 314 this past April.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals Islam fight caused more concussion symptoms than Ilia 🧠😔
“I feel like I had more of a concussion from the Islam fight, even though I was knocked out longer with Ilia. I had a lot more of the symptoms in that one. I should have had the break.”… pic.twitter.com/S833AgDsA7
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 8, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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