Alexander Volkanovski Defends Featherweight Title with Dominant TKO Victory Over Rodriguez

In a display of sheer dominance, Alexander Volkanovski proved once again that he is the pound-for-pound king of mixed martial arts. The UFC Featherweight champion defended his title against Yair Rodriguez with a third-round TKO victory at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Volkanovski's flawless performance included seven takedowns in 12 attempts, 149 total strikes, and 66 significant strikes, leaving the challenger with only 57 total strikes and 40 significant strikes.

This win comes after Volkanovski's second career loss against UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makachev in February, where he fell short of becoming a two-division champion. However, with his victory over Rodriguez, Volkanovski has proven that he is still the undisputed king of the 145-pound division. He has already defeated future Hall-of-Famer Max Holloway three times, Jose Aldo, Chang Sung Jung, and Brian Ortega.

Although Ilia Topuria could be Volkanovski's next opponent, the champion may need surgery after his latest fight. Alternatively, he might seek a rematch against Makachev. Topuria, who defeated Josh Emmet in June, is ranked fifth in the UFC's rankings, with Rodriguez, Holloway, Ortega, and Arnold Allen ranked higher.

While Topuria could be a logical choice for Volkanovski's next fight, a match between Rodriguez and Allen seems equally plausible. Volkanovski may wait to see how the next round of contender fights pans out before making his next move. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 145-pound division, but one thing is certain: with Volkanovski at the helm, the future looks bright.