The Great is a two-time FW champion. He lost the UFC featherweight title to Topuria by second-round knockout (POW) at UFC 298 in February 2024. It was his first UFC featherweight loss and ended a long reign that included five successful defenses. His UFC winning streak was won by Lightweight champion Islam in one of the most high-profile fights in recent years. He later regained the belt (winning it vacant after Topuria stepped up) and has successfully defended it ever since, including two wins over Diego Lopes. He is currently the reigning two-time champion with a professional record of 28-4 and is tied with Aldo for the most UFC featherweight title fights (8). It cannot be overstated how impressive it was to see The Great dig himself out of a career-ending position after two consecutive TKO/KOs in a 3-fight stretch. Bouncing back on the wrong side of 35 in the lighter weight classes is unheard of. I know the GOAT talk is mostly driven by opinion, but one loss — especially to a younger, elite player in his prime — doesn’t erase years of dominance, especially when Volkanovski’s overall form is so strong. So where do you think old man Volk will land?
(On a side note, do any other UFC divisions have a race for goats? Volk, Holloway, Aldo Jesus Christ, what a list of champions!)
