UFC analyst and commentator Michael Chiesa wants to see Alexander Volkanovski in fresh matchups in his second featherweight title reign, even if that comes at the expense of Diego Lopes’ pursuit of the belt.
Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) picked up the vacant championship left by Ilia Topuria’s move to lightweight when he beat Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC 314 in April. The belt hasn’t been defended since, and this past Saturday, Lopes got back on track with a second-round TKO of Jean Silva at UFC Fight Night 259.
Lopes, 30, said he wants a second shot at gold in the aftermath of the win, and Volkanovski didn’t rule out a rematch when naming a list of four potential next challengers that included the Brazilian, Lerone Murphy, Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev.
For Chiesa, the most sensible next contender has to be Murphy (17-0-1 MMA, 9-0-1 UFC), who delivered a Knockout of the Year contender against Aaron Pico at August’s UFC 319 in the latest performance of his undefeated career run.
“For the time that we do have left with Volkanovski, I think we do want fresh fights,” Chiesa told MMA Junkie. “At least for me as a fan, I would love fresh fights. I think Lerone Murphy has punched his ticket honestly. For him to be undefeated in main events, in the UFC, and roll the dice on three weeks’ notice, he had a tough weight cut and takes on Aaron Pico, who is very dangerous and who everybody already kind of said, ‘If Pico beats Lerone Murphy, he’s getting a title fight.’ If Pico beats him he’s jumping the line.”
If Murphy does get the shot, then Chiesa said he sees a pretty clear construction of the matchup to make for the No. 1 contender after that. Then for the remaining names near the top of the pecking order, they’ll have to fall in line for what is logical when they are actually available.
“Let’s do Yair (Rodriguez) and Lopes,” Chiesa said. “That’s the fight. Whoever wins that fight could pull ahead for a title fight. For Aljamain, he’s kind of in a tough spot. That’s my friend. He’s, to me, in the toughest space. … We don’t know what his recovery time (from the elbow injury) is like, and for Movsar, I hate to be tough on the guy, but how many fights have you pulled out of at this point?
“I think Movsar’s next fight should be his health. I think he should just focus on his health. Your health woes are what’s holding you back. You have amazing skills, and you’re the No. 1 guy – focus on your health before you get back into a fight because your next fight is going to be the biggest one.”
Despite throwing his support behind Murphy to get a title shot against Volkanovski, perhaps at UFC 323 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas, Chiesa admits that isn’t the matchup that creates the biggest possibility of the belt changing hands.
Chiesa said that designation belongs to a rematch between Volkanovski and Lopes. He thinks Lopes spending 25 minutes in the octagon with “The Great,” and the subsequent changes he’s made in the fallout of that defeat, would make a second encounter look different. And that’s exactly why Chiesa isn’t the most keen to seen it.
“I think the biggest challenge for Volkanovski is not Lerone Murphy. I think the biggest challenge for Volkanovski is going to be Diego Lopes, because he pushed him pretty damn hard that first fight,” Chiesa said. “A fighter of Diego Lopes’ caliber only comes back better after a loss when they’re in their prime. He’s been spending time at Oklahoma State Wrestling, and really I think that’s the most dangerous fight for Volkanovski right now is that rematch with Lopes. So if I’m Volkanovski’s team, let’s fight the fresh faces and when he bows out (for retirement), maybe throw Diego Lopes in there for the (vacant) title fight, not going in there with a rematch.”
