Rising star Alexander Volkanovski heads to Brazil to face legendary featherweight Jose Aldo at UFC 237 on Saturday in what is clearly the most important fight of his career. A win for "Alex the Great" could put him in line for a title fight against champion Max Holloway. As for Aldo, a win would keep the legend in the title mix, though his two losses to Holloway hurt his chances. Where could he go from here?
This was one topic discussed in this week's Ariel & The Bad Guy episode, streamed exclusively on ESPN+.
Helwani: It's a phenomenal fight, Chael. Is it a title eliminator for both? No. It's certainly, in my opinion, a title eliminator for Alex Volkanovski, and let me explain. Volkanovski is 19-1. He's 6-0 in the UFC. He just finished Chad Mendes, a former title contender in his last fight. Prior to that, he derailed the hype train that was Darren Elkins. Yes, I said the hype train that was Darren Elkins. If he beats Jose Aldo in Rio, where Jose Aldo typically and historically performs very well, to me there are no questions asked anymore. Alex Volkanovski is the No. 1 contender at 145 pounds.
Now, I understand there's Frankie Edgar out there. But these are the facts, Chael: Frankie Edgar hasn't won a fight -- hasn't fought a fight -- since April of last year. That's 13 months ago, last I checked. In that time, Volkanovski will have won, if he wins Saturday, three times. But most importantly, Chael, he will have a win over Jose Aldo. Jose Aldo is 2-0 against Frankie Edgar, and so how do you then deny "Alex the Great" a chance to fight for the belt against Max Holloway when he has a win over that man Jose Aldo? There's no chance you could do it.
Now I understand if the UFC wants to give Frankie Edgar the next shot based on legacy, based on what he has done in the past, based on his great résumé. But there's no doubt in my mind that if Volkanovski wins this fight, he should not fight again -- he should fight for a title next, whenever that next is. For Aldo, as long as Holloway is the champion, it's going to be hard to get a third crack at him. He just has to keep on winning and hope that Holloway loses the belt at some point. But for Volkanovski, the stakes couldn't be higher.
Sonnen: Yes, Ariel, this is a two-way race. This is between Volkanovski and Zabit (Magomedsharipov).
Zabit is the only one who might get a nod over him. I fully agree with you, but there is still something very interesting in the storyline. I mean, what a mega fight. And don't forget, and I got to walk you down history lane a little bit here, but had Max Holloway become the interim champion at 155 pounds, it was believed by many -- and I happen to be one -- that this fight between Aldo and Volkanovski was going to be declared for the interim, if not the world featherweight championship of some level. I think we would agree with that.
There are really big stakes here, but I also have to concede to what you said. Look, what's good for the goose is not good for the gander here. This is a semifinal match, if you will, for Alex. It is not for Jose. He's been there, done that, had too many opportunities -- two in total -- against Max Holloway. They're going to be looking for some new parities. So if Jose Aldo wins, what do you do with him? That's going to be a very hard question. It'll be something special. It will still be meaningful fights that are looked at and people want to see -- possibly even main events, nothing less than a co-main event, I would predict. But it won't be for the championship. For Alex, this is the breakthrough moment, Ariel.
Helwani: I get what you're saying about Zabit, and I have no doubt that at some point in the not-too-distant future, Zabit Magomedsharipov is going to fight for a title. But if Volkanovski wins, how could you put Zabit over him? Zabit has not fought anyone close to Aldo or even Chad Mendes. His last win was against Jeremy Stephens -- tough guy -- but we're not talking Mendes or Aldo.
How do you justify putting Zabit over Volkanovski if Volkanovski wins on Saturday?
Sonnen: Ariel, I wouldn't. What I'm sharing for you -- because you brought in Frankie Edgar, who is always a really great choice, my favorite fighter, in full disclosure. However, they are going to be looking for some parity, and when it comes down to parity, if you are looking at the top two, you are looking at Alex and Zabit.
I do not suggest for you that Zabit jumps the line. I just suggest for you that when you're having the conversation for now, at least you can remove Frankie from that, and if you want to put the next guy who's on the rise, that the company and the promotion would like to get behind as well as the fans who already are, it would be Zabit.
Helwani: OK, now I get it. I understand the pitch as far as Frankie is concerned is 'Hey, I fought Brian Ortega on short notice. You kind of owe me one here. I took a fight against Cub Swanson on short notice after that.' And fine, I'm not going to raise a stink here, but what Volkanovski has done in his past few fights is incredible.
I mean, to stop Chad Mendes like that and maybe even retire Chad Mendes -- Mendes hasn't come out and said that he's done, but it looks as though he might be done -- Elkins was looking really good. I mean, 6-0. He's fought some tough guys, Jeremy Kennedy as well, and then to go into Rio and fight Aldo, and if we're talking about beating Aldo, that's incredible.
You know what I love so much about this fight, Chael? When I was talking to Volkanovski about this potential fight back in February, he said, 'Man, I would love this opportunity, but the problem is my best friends are getting married on May 11.' When he officially got the offer, Chael, to fight Aldo in Rio, his best friends found out about it, and guess what? They postponed their wedding for him to take this fight. Those are the greatest best friends in the world, and they're getting married in a couple of weeks so that he can go out there and take this fight. He has to win now. He has to win because his friends did that.
Sonnen: There's certainly some new pressure. That's the factoid of the show. Well done, Helwani.