Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski on Saturday refused to let a considerable size difference put him off as he pulled off a brilliant knockout win over Yair Rodriguez to retain his featherweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 34-year-old Volkanovski stunned his Mexican opponent with a right hook and followed it up with devastating ground strikes to end the fight with 41 seconds left in round three, before saying he planned to step up a division and claim a new crown.
“I still want that lightweight belt, I’m still coming for that, whoever’s next,” he said in a post-fight interview.
Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY
Volkanovski’s previous attempt to add the lightweight title to his featherweight belt ended in a unanimous decision loss to Islam Makhachev in February, but it appears there is no featherweight who can threaten his dominance as he made his fifth successful defense of the title.
With Rodriguez’s considerable height and reach advantages, Volkanovski was careful to stay out of range in the first round before taking the fight to the ground, where he controlled his Mexican opponent with relative ease.
Rodriguez had some success early in the second round with some lightning-fast kicks, but was rocked with a punch that allowed Volkanovski to take the fight back to the mat.
Although he looked dangerous on the feet, Rodriguez had no answer when Volkanovski closed the distance, and a counter-right hook from the Australian signaled the beginning of the end as the fourth round reached its climax.
Sensing victory, Volkanovski poured forward, dumping Rodriguez on the canvas again and raining down blows before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight.
“You’ve got to expect the unexpected. That’s Yair. Everyone who knows the game knows how dangerous he was,” Volkanovski said.
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