Volkanovski battles against undefeated course at UFC 314

Former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski looks to come out on top of a title fight in UFC 314.

Many fans are making bold fight predictions when it comes to Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes at UFC 314, highlighting all of Lopes’ flaws and past performances but completely ignoring one important detail: the ‘curse’ that remains undefeated in the octagon.

Can Volkanovski overcome the curse?

UFC fighters in the male divisions, below welterweight, are winless in title fights if they are aged 35 or above. The record for fighters who fit these criteria (including welterweight) is an alarming 3-24.

At 36, Vokanovski is entering the fight against Lopes having already fallen victim to the so-called ‘curse’, the first time in his rematch against Makhachev, then a knockout loss against Ilia Topuria.

Volkanovski was actually aware of the ‘curse’ ahead of his fight against Ilia Topuria, he embraced the role of the ‘old man’.

Historically, UFC fighters of Volkanovski’s age in the featherweight division are 0-5 in title fights. A win at UFC 314 for Volkanovski would be a first-ever for any fighter below welterweight.

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