After a very long time, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanvski has something to prove. Already considered the greatest featherweight in UFC history, ‘Volk’ is still undefeated at 145 lbs. However,  the Australian is coming off a UFC 294 head-kick knockout loss to Islam Makhachev.

This is why his next fight against the hyped, undefeated Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 this Saturday is so important. With questions about the effect the knockout has had on him, the former rugby player would be looking to remind fans just how good he is. Ahead of the much-awaited clash, we take a look at Joe Rogan and Sean O’Malley‘s assessment of the Aussie’s grappling before the Makhachev fight.

Rogan and O’Malley discuss Alexander Volkanovski’s grappling

Joe Rogan and Sean O’Malley got to discussing how Alexander Volkanvski would match up against Makhachev. In the podcast episode before Volkanovski’s first clash against Makhachev at UFC 284, Rogan and O’Malley felt that because Volkanovski had an excellent takedown defense and was quicker than the Dagestani, he could be a problem for the lightweight champion if ‘Volk’ could hit him and avoid being taken down.

“But the thing is the grappling. Like if you look at Volkanovski, he’s got real good takedown defense and he can take guys down. Took Max Holloway down a bunch, but he’s not the biggest guy even at 145, right. And when you’re going up to face a big guy at 55, but also has Islam seen anybody that can move as fast as Volkanovski? What if he catches him a few times on the feet and if he can avoid a takedown, I mean you’re dealing with a significantly quicker guy. He’s probably never fought anybody that quick,” Rogan conveyed.

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O’Malley reminded Rogan of the time Brian Ortega had managed to get a guillotine choke on ‘Alexander The Great’ at their UFC 266 clash, which Volkanovski eventually managed to get out of and defeat Ortega. Rogan felt that if Makhachev managed to secure a choke on Volkanovski, he would probably not be able to escape given the 155-pound king’s historically great grappling skills.

“Now imagine Islam in that same position. You might not get out of that. I think Islam has a next level, otherworldly squeeze. It just seems like he gets a hold of these guys and they just can’t do jack sh**,” the JRE podcast host added. And ahead of UFC 298, Michael Bisping, too analyzed ‘Volk’s grappling.

Bisping feels Topuria’s grappling is no match

On his ‘Believe You Me‘ podcast, Michael Bisping compared Ilia Topuria’s grappling skills with Volkanovski’s. The former middleweight champion felt that Topuria had excellent grappling due to his Greco-Roman wrestling background, giving him the ability to explode halfway across the ring.

“He’s [Topuria has] been Greco-Roman wrestling from a very very early age. He’s got a great double-leg take-down, he explodes from halfway across the octagon and he still manages to get it. So he’s got great technique and great explosive ability,” he said.

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However, he felt that since Volkanovski was able to deal with Makhachev’s takedowns, despite going up a weight class, and even get his takedowns, he doubted Topuria’s grappling would be much of a challenge for the featherweight champion.“So if Islam couldn’t take full advantage and that’s with him stepping up a weight-class, then I think Topuria struggles there,” Bisping added.

What are your predictions for UFC 298 this Saturday? Let us know in the comments section below.

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