Alexander Volkanovski’s coach speaks following pupil’s loss of UFC featherweight title

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Joe Lopez who coaches former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski was disappointed after Volkanovski lost his title to Ilia Topuria.

Volkanovski who held the belt for four years was dethroned by being punched during the second round of their bout at UFC 298.

Lopez found no fault with his student’s performance throughout the game even after the defeat, but said that Topuria won because of one thing.

‘Alex was going through the game plan, was finding his range and starting to touch him up.

‘(I) was disappointed (by the result), knowing that Alex has a much better skillset… We knew coming into this fight he (Topuria) had a puncher’s chance —and he got that punch.’

Just as fighters like Francis Ngannou, Topuria had the capacity to inflict unconsciousness or achieve a technical knockdown if his punch lands unhindered.

Some say Topuria was lucky.