Alexander Volkanovski Will Not Get Immediate Rematch Against Islam Makhachev

UFC announced a featherweight unification title bout pitting Volkanovski against Yair Rodriguez, while the lightweight champion’s next opponent is undetermined.

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Alexander Volkanovski will not get an immediate rematch against Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship.

Speaking at the post–Fight Night press conference Saturday, UFC president Dana White shared that the UFC’s plan is a featherweight unification title bout pitting Volkanovski against Yair Rodriguez. Makhachev’s next opponent is still being determined, said White.

Even though the Makhachev-Volkanovski rematch makes a tremendous amount of sense (especially given the current landscape of the division), there is valid reason to hold off. If Volkanovski can obliterate Rodriguez in their bout, then he builds legitimate momentum for a rematch. It also removes the possibility of Volkanovski losing two bouts in a row to Makhachev—and while that could still be the case if he were to lose to Rodriguez, it is far less likely an option. Volkanovski suffering two straight losses would significantly hurt his star power, so perhaps stretching out the rematch makes sense.

Rodriguez won the featherweight title fight against Josh Emmett on Feb. 11, when Makhachev beat Volkanovski for the lightweight title :: Jasmin Frank/USA TODAY Sports

In the meantime, Makhachev will defend his belt against someone else, with Dustin Poirier being the most logical candidate. Though Poirier is dangerous, th clash of styles between the two should favor Makhachev. Here is the drawback: If both Makhachev and Volkanovski win their respective fights, that will throw a wrinkle in the plans of Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush. The winner of that bout in May should be the next title contender. But, it seems, the UFC sees more money in a rematch between Makhachev and Volkanovski.

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Tatiana Suarez wins emotional return bout

Fight Night was a thin card, and it was hurt significantly when it was announced that Nikita Krylov was too ill to compete in the main event against Ryan Spann. That trimmed a five-fight into only four, but it did not take any of the shine away from the highlight of the night, which was the victorious return of Tatiana Suarez.

Suarez (9–0) extended her undefeated record by forcing Montana De La Rosa to submit to a guillotine choke in the second round. It was Suarez’s first appearance in the Octagon in nearly four years—her last fight took place in June 2019—but she continued her championship pursuit by dominating Del La Rosa (12-8-1).

Tatiana Suarez's (@TatianaUFC) 6-fight UFC win streak is 2nd longest among active women's streaks (Shevchenko, 9). #UFCVegas70

— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 26, 2023

The past few years have been a whirlwind for Suarez. She reaggravated a neck injury in 2019, but it was a knee injury in ’21 that put a lengthy halt to her career. A cancer survivor, Suarez is no stranger to overcoming obstacles, and her victory Saturday was another triumph for the fighting spirit. She looked sharp and precise in her attack and she instantly reemerges as a title contender.

Just not for the flyweight belt.

Following the Performance of the Night showing, Suarez announced her plans to move to strawweight. She would be an instant contender, especially if she gets her wish with a fight against perennial contender (and former two-time champ) Rose Namajunas.

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Yaroslav Amosov shines for Ukraine at Bellator 291

Yaroslav Amosov defeated Logan Storley on Saturday at Bellator 291, finally defending his welterweight title.

Amosov won the title in June 2021, then left the sport to fight for the Ukrainian military against invading Russian forces. Remarkably, Amosov (27–0) looked even better in his return bout, almost entirely negating Storley’s wrestling, which was largely considered to be his strongest advantage.

As for his next opponent in the cage, it is likely Jason Jackson, who is on a six-fight win streak. Second-ranked Michael Page (who lost to Storley in the interim title bout last May) will match up against fifth-ranked Goiti Yamauchi in two weeks at Bellator 292. That will help determine the upper echelon of the contenders; one name to consider is Brennan Ward, who is only one more win away from a title shot.

The win Saturday allowed Amosov the opportunity to speak freely and honestly about the war in Ukraine, and he said, “[Vladimir] Putin started a big war in my country. He wants to kill kids and every person who is Ukrainian. Thank you to the Ukrainian army for defending my country. Thank you to whoever helped my country. Please don't forget what’s happening.”

As champion, Amosov will have an even greater opportunity to shed light on what is taking place in Ukraine.

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.