Is UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski the baddest man on the planet? UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman might currently occupy the pound for pound number one spot officially, but after Volkanovski’s masterclass against Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 276, his head coach Eugene Bareman told Submission Radio that if Alexander “The Great” isn’t the pound for pound number one, he doesn’t know who could be.
“Oh man, I’m lost for words, man. Like, it’s just… the team, me, Joe, Alex, the coaches, we talked about a masterclass, about just cementing, solidifying every round and just being convincing. S***, I didn’t know he’d be that convincing. I didn’t know that. As much as I’ve gotten to know Alex over the years, the guy could still have a performance like that and still leave me gob-smacked.
Bareman Declares Volkanovski P4P No. 1
I’m like, wow. Just when you think he’s good and he’s at his best, he finds another level. And just, what a masterclass. Like, respectfully, if that’s not the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, then I don’t know who is.”
This is some serious praise considering that Bareman also trains Israel Adesanya, the UFC middleweight champion and #3 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC listings – at least for the moment. Eugene Bareman described how he believes that Alexander Volkanovski was the best fighter on the planet way back when he defeated Max Holloway the first time.
“He’s the best on the planet. He was the best after the first fight with Max. Max was the best, and then we beat him. And then people still didn’t – there was still some doubters. And then the second fight was close, but we still won. And then there was still some doubters.
I was never in doubt. I knew Alex was the better fighter from the start. I didn’t think we had to have the second fight. I definitely didn’t think we needed the third fight to prove that. Now, it’s not important to me, it’s not important to me, but it does get important to Alex and it does get important to the team. Recognize what he is. He’s the best featherweight in the world. He’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world right now.
And if you can’t see that, if you can’t see that, then I’m not gonna insult you, then you need to learn more about his sport and understand this sport better and just get into the sport more. But that’s what I would like for people to walk away from this performance with. That’s the best fighter on the planet at this very moment.”
Do you agree with Eugene Bareman? Let us know in the comments.
