the guy basically has everything, reach, chin, speed, cardio, boxing, defense, volume, footwork, great wrestling, great ground and pound, fight IQ, improving, and the passion to wanna improve and feel comfortable in all this, he doesn't look nervous before fights at all.
@@ant2011 in the yair fight volk's low kicks weren't connecting half of the time.. it looked very funny him trying to kick blank void.... wouldn't have mattered any way he was so much better in every other department i knew he had it
@@stephenr80 I don't think its going to be a battle. Illia is pretty much straight up worse than Volk in every conceivable category, and he didn't look amazing versus Bryce or Emmett who both kind of suck ass. Volk basically said he doesn't want to talk about how bad Illia actually is, technically, because he wants the fight to sell.
John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
@kylerBD He's shorter and achieved a lot more. So yeah, probably more of a short king than Volk atm. Not to say Volk won't be THE king, but he isn't yet.
Volk actually confirmed on a podcast with Craig Jones that he's 5'5, and said he's only 5'6 with shoes on. The UFC is known for inflating height stats for whatever reason.
You are correct, your comment is underrated. There is no better source to approve facts than the actual individual answering in question, Alexander Volkanovski said it himself he's 5'5". Here is the proof from that podcast interview with Craig Jones... (3:04) czcams.com/video/omh9oCkVkV4/video.html
and just as they inflate heights, they inflate the reach also. imo even more than heights. i don't care how wide shouldered or broad chested some fighters are, their reach is inflated just like their height.
The way he can make adjustments in between camp and during the fight is crazy. He's sooo good at setups and listening to his corner in between midnight .
to me personally the second Max fight was his most impressive performance, he lost the first two rounds and was getting dropped, and made adjustments and came back and won the last 3 rounds.
Yeah bro honestly what makes dude special is his ability to still add layers to his game bro when he fought Mendes he was a good striker but man once he fought TKZ his boxing was just on another level
It's not just that he listens to his corner, but he has an engaged dialogue with them. I think it was during the Makhachev fight where I really heard him for the first time, telling his coaches what he thought was happening, and them giving him insightful feedback. But he seemed like he was leading the discussion, even in the later rounds. The guy has a fight IQ that is off the charts.
@@mikedangerdoes his irt fight IQ is the highest UFC has ever seen,i believe. he does reads faster than every1 and can hold multiple things/calculations in his mind at once. he recognizes when the opponent reads him, and goes to a second then 3rd pattern. because his mind works faster, he faints about one per second (how u gonna respond? how u gonna respond to this?) and gives opponent cognitive exhaustion. they can barely make reads anymore, to fast, too complex, and they fall into confusion. ive seen him describe some of these things in different interviews. he is the first to ever win by cognitive exhaustion. i remember luke thomas saying "who the hell would have ever thought of doing that!".
People calling his stature a non factor are delusional. During one of those ESPN games they do with fighters they had max and alex draw each other and when max drew him he drew him with the longest arms possible and said something in the meaning of "dude got a crazy reach you really can't tell until you fight him"
it must feel wild because his reach is longer than other featherweights, but since he's also faster and has great timing, it must feel like he's hitting them from a place they can't hit him back
Everytime I watch Volkanovski fighting, I'm flabbergasted by how fricking long his arms are. When he's on guard, his arms cover all of his torso and also protects his face. My man is a Geodude
Isn't it so beautiful that in mma not your body but your skillset and experience define your wins. Honestly I think that Volk is so good because he constantly becomes better. From each fight back to back his performance never fails to amaze me.
nah body matters a lot. that short neck is the difference between him getting submitted or not. thats a HUGE deal. having a chin is also another thing you cant really train. same with reach. theres a reason why tall lengthy guys are dominating and the one small guy has a insane reach so he doesnt count as short.
As well as Volk having no sleep after USADA woke him up. He had to take sleeping tablets to get back to sleep which he states still made him drowsy until half way through the fight.
This is the biggest factor, sure he does have some advantages being shorter with long arms and thick neck. But, his mindset on improving everyday and taking up new challenges with his immense discipline and work ethic, makes the REAL difference.
As far as what the best body type might be, I think reach is more important than height. The "tall, lengthy" archetype is an archetype because BEING tall generally means being long, and long is what matters most if you understand how to utilize your range. Hitting without the possibility of getting hit is an overwhelming advantage if utilized correctly.
No bro. His body doesn't make him great. He is just that great. With that dermination, focus, iq and understanding the fight game so well, it wouldn't matter what type of body he has. His size has strengths and weaknesses, but HE doesn't. Hes not the only one with that physique, but no one is just as good as him with it. Its credit to him. He'll work with what he has
He himself said his reach is inaccurate on the ufc profile. Many fighters have the wrong height and reach on their profiles. I believe he still has long arms for his height but you should not just believe what is written on the UFC fighter profiles.
Volk said his reach is not accurate in a press conference after his last fight. I think his wide stocky frame adds to his reach and he jus has really good distance management
@FistfulOfGabagool Reach fingertip to fingertip is not the same as the reach when throwing a punch. If his shoulders are wide with a long reach, he means his arms are not as long as people think. This mean that when he's in a stance, his "reach" doesn't exactly match-up to what people think. Combined with short legs, he has to do a lot more distance management than most people think. Not sure why you tried to counter this, if Volk said it himself then we have to believe it, cause who knows Volk more than Volk?
@@BRUCEYBOY you rotate your torso when you throw punches, you don't stand square. so that wide frame is a part of the length of your fully extended punch. watch the end position of a fully extended jab or a right cross and pay attention to the torso angle in relation to the extended arm. there's a reason they measure wingspan in boxing and not arm length.
@@FistfulOfGabagool you dont alway s rotate your torso. you ever did sparring? you know what fookin telegraphing a punch means??? Also muay thai fighters do stand square. they utilize leg kicks and check kicks
@@qefewfwdcwdc i trained and fought muay thai in thailand. the stance is relatively square but you still rotate into your punches. if you don't rotate you're just throwing fluff to set up kicks which is basically feinting. kicks score higher in muay thai plus the large gloves make punches not as effective especially considering most thai fighters are under 150lbs, they're not exactly power punchers.. anyway volk does not use a muay thai stance or style so even if you were right about muay thai(you're not) it would have nothing to do with volk.
It is often said that Volk carried strength from his rugby days, but that’s also the source of his composure. After years of running full speed into multiple defenders every weekend, one on one competition isn’t scary.
One on one competition is definitely more daunting, because you’re all alone in the cage. No teammates to blame when things go wrong. The strength I think is definitely legit though.
@@rico14 the position he played in rugby though, meant his job was to be the guy that went by himself into the line of defenders, so that self confidence probably translates well into mma
@leopers9225 , he was playing Rugby at 214 lbs, thats the difference. That would be equal to fighting in Lightheavyweight MMA, Jones and DC's division. Volk cut weight to 145 lbs, thus he has the strength and durability that no 145 lbs fighter has, or even no 155 lbs fighters except for few like Khabib or Makhachev.
The number 1 thing i think you forgot but is crazy important, volk has wildly short legs, but the torso length is more similar to, say, a large welterweight. So yes, hes very short, but his torso is much larger than what his height would have you think. What does this lead to? Well, it lends him a massive pair of lungs, and huge heart for his overall stature, and meanwhile his legs being so short give him a short momentum arm (massive strength advantage) and as such are much more efficient than longer legs. This is literally the perfect build for cardio. Thats why volk never gets tired!
Exactly. He’s almost got a swimmers frame. Have a look at the Olympic swimmers. They’ve generally got this greater torso to legs ratio. Not only that but Volk has got the lats of a swimmer or surfer. Maybe he’s done a bit of surfing down on the south coast of NSW.
Beyond his body type, what makes Volk stand out imo is his uncommon quickness, especially for his build, and he shows exceptional skill in hopping in and out of the pocket. In terms of body, his short neck not only reduces ko chance, but the reduced angle is also better able to glance/deflect strikes to the neck/head. He also isn’t afraid to enter the pocket and strike, which is necessary but not always seen in shorter fighters. Clearly the best pfp fighter in the world, perhaps just above jon jones
Everyone though Jones had the best build, crazy reach, absurdly long legs, tiny torso Turns out the hobbit build is what peak performance actually looks like
In the Ortega fight when he escaped the submission attempts and then switched it around to beat the shit out of Brian was both terrifying and awesome to watch.
I always thought Ortega could have submitted him if he had a longer neck, dude has no neck, when someone has his back he starts laughing like "you can't choke out a man with no neck bro"
He's a freak on so many levels. The fact that he's 34 and still improving also impresses me. And his work ethic.... Everyone in the UFC has a ridiculous work ethic, but Volk is a damn cyborg. His fight IQ also surprises me. I'm definitely a fan!!!
Or just a short torso in general, Jose Aldo was without debate the best striker on earth for years because his legs were so long in comparison to his height, and the shortness also made it easier to stuff takedowns, which is why Jose was known as the anti-wrestler
Nah lol it’s just he’s so good we’re only focusing on his advantages that he made it to his advantage also he himself said he doesn’t have 71 inch reach
You aren't going to be champion of the world without physical advantages. So many people work hard and just have lesser talent. Not taking away anything from Volk, but you need hard work and physical advantages to be a (dominant) champion, for the most part. Look at Jon Jones, Volk, GSP (never had a reach disadvantage), and Izzy
of course he doesn't. you're one of the few people who realize this. he probably does have slightly longer reach than his height, but it's definitely not 71.5 inches...
I used to do muay and lethwei with a burman built like Volk. Im 6ft and wide, with a 76" reach. This 5'5 burman with long arms and short legs held out in every round striking and wrestling. He was the best training partner. Miss him.
@@-Ice_Cold- only in a few parts of the world. Most of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are under 6. Though the average global height is increasing.
@@-Ice_Cold-6 ft is average in the Netherlands and among sime african tribes. The average height for a man in the rest if the world ranges from 5'8 to 5'10. Wtf are you people smoking?
Johnny Bones and Volk are when elite skills/IQ meet elite physical characteristics. Almost impossible for their opponents to execute a winning game plan
It helps being 5’6 when your opponents are 5’11 - and you both are in the same weight class. They’ll both weigh the same, but more of Volk’s weight comes from muscle, when his opponent’s heights partially come from their height
I don't think anyone utilizes their ground and pound damage output approach as good as Volk does. That's just ONE aspect of his Huge bag of tricks when it comes to MMA skills and fight IQ adjustment abilities. It's insane
I don't think volk's reach matters as much as people think it does cuz ultimately as a short fighter ur punching up, which takes off some of that reach and power, and volk likes ducking and weaving in and out, so in reality his reach is basically even with most fighters in his weight class despite having really long arms. The long arms help, but by attributing so much of his success to his body type ur taking away from the insane amount of prep work, conditioning and game planning that makes volk and his team excel.
And a tall fighters punches down at a angle so still the taller fighters reach shortens And as a shorter fighter you can duck but as a taller fighter you can't duck
it neutralizes the advantages of taller fighters like max/yair while also giving him all the advantages of being short and stocky(grapping, takedown/submission defense, lower center of mass, etc.) which the taller fighters lack. so he has the best of both worlds. he's like DC with a jon jones reach, it's tremendous.
Height doesn’t matter much if you’ve got reach, height in itself isn’t the real positive gain, it’s the reach that usually follows, and then again mass - but they’ll all weigh the same.
You are being silly if you really think that. Height adds each. Generally, your kicks are longer the taller you are. For Volk, his reach helps him with body shot, but he still has to punch up, which shortens reach. A tall guy meanwhile can go low, punch and have more effective reach.
I don’t get the thick neck thing, I’ve always found thick necks easier to submit. The short neck makes sense but thicker seems easier to submit because the carotid arteries are easier to squeeze.
Good point, but maybe it's also more difficult to squeeze something if you can't easily get around it, and thick stuff is harder to get around than thin stuff. Although admittedly your arms should always be long enough to get around people's necks, so I don't quite understand that part either. But maybe in thicker necks there's more room for the arteries to 'duck down', if you know what I mean, maybe it's harder to press them off *completely* cause there's more 'give' towards the neck centre, and so therefore there's still some blood/oxygen going to the brain, even if you're pressing onto them a little. So yes, you can get a squeeze, but not a 'complete squeeze', maybe... Dunno.
Islam vs volk was always such a crossroad match up for me. I train at AKA and see Islam there and even roll with him along with other pro fighters there sometimes. But I have a build similar to volk where I was actually like 205 for football but slimmed down do training in mma. I also have as much reach as my friends who are like 6’4. I want Islam to win because he my teammate but volk gives hope to all the ppl out there who wasn’t blessed with height like me.
One important aspect to consider as well is that his torso is extremely long compared to his legs which gives a massive advantage during full guard positions, in both roles. From the bottom he'll be able to keep the opponent away from him, and from the top it's going to be hard for the opponent to keep him out of range.
Volk himself has said that those reach stats are incorrect and that his arms are shorter. He's manipulating the range with his footwork and feints more than anything else. Also, he relies on kicks A LOT in order to extend his reach.
Thank you lol Volk's focus, drive, iq and overall knowledge of the fight game is what seperates him. Hes not the only fighter every with this build. Hes just that damn good! We're not gnna give glory to his parents DNA or god making him short, it belittles the work Volk put in. Its his mentality. Hes worked with what he got and perfects his craft it wouldnt matter what type of build he has with his brain
I should do a video on why you havent made an Errol Spencd vs Terrance Crawford Video. Thats really the biggest fight of this year so far hands down 🤷🏾
A long reach- short stature combination is even more rare, than either a lanky or stocky a build, and only advantageous, because a fighter can take advantage of the weight class system.
You look at him and his shortness throws you for a loop but he’s got that freak reach so even though he’s tiny he can stay on the outside. He’s also a bull when it comes to strength so his wrestling game is gnarly. I actually thought Yair would give him a run bc Volk has short legs and Yair is a kicking machine and could take it to his legs and body along with his head.
Volk avoided a lot of the kicking setups because of his stance switching, which was genius. I’ve never seen someone switch stances so frequently and fluidly in a fight before. It was wild
let me make something very clear...the reason he escaped so many submissions in the cage is technique its 1% to do with his short/fat neck and 99% technique and practice your doing him dirty by saying he escaped because of the dimensions of his neck
He carries 220lbs for years and that builds bone density and tendon strength. Plus the dudes head and neck are huge compared to his body, making him very hard to KO and even harder to choke. No 145er escapes the deep guillotine Ortega had on Volk, except Volk.
Volk is literally built different. I'm only 5ft4 (163cm) but have monkey reach at 5ft7.5 (171cm). I can out jab most people in my weight class due to reach
i think floyd mayweather is also someone that is short (especially in the higher weight classes) but has very long arms for his height. Probably helped him a lot as well and it also made it so he was able to almost completely block his body because of his long arms.
I don't think being short is an advantage but long arms (high "ape index") seems to show up a lot among top fighters. GSP and Jon Jones both have long arms, even for their height. I would also note that all three (Mayweather, GSP, and Jon Jones) all switch stances. Then again, Khabib doesn't have long arms and was arguably the most dominant fighter of all time, so it seems like all body types have a chance.
Something I realized being lil shorter and having to fight taller opponents, is that when they hit me they hit my forehead or nose most of the time but when I hit them its almost always on the chin
I was lucky enough to work with his strength & conditioning coach and train at his gym throughout the fight camp against Yair. Volkanovski is on a different level, I call his physique the 'hybrid fighter' as he literally has every desirable quality for combat sports.
I also believe they are more explosive. Maybe it has to do with the center of gravity and being so compact, it can make you faster at positioning properly, which is crucial for throwing good punches. Plus maybe it's also psychological, in part, because they realize they have to be precise and fast, cause slowness won't win them any races. Whereas taller guys might be tempted to think that with their sheer mass and strength they can overpower people eventually, overlooking the importance of speed and tactics and so forth, until it's too late.
reach measurement is deceptive becauce it's measured with arms out wide which accounts also for shoulder width. Even if Volk's total reach comes out as longer than the opponent's it doesn't mean that his punches will reach further because short arm measurements can be compensated for with shoulder width...even with Holloway Volk might have the longer total reach but you can clearly see Max's actual arms are longer
HBO Boxing uses an " arm length" measurement taken from the armpit to the fist. That's the number that really matters and I wish the UFC would start doing it too.
The more I learn about rugby the more I think it’s just the perfect non combat sport to transition from, American footballs similar but you’ve got pads so there’s an illusion of safety but in rugby it’s all doooggggg!
"The illusion of safety" is a great way to describe it. Wearing a helmet and pads makes things somewhat safer but the helmet and pads also means people can hit harder.
I think Volk is truly one of a kind. His build + Reach helps. But his Mentality towards the game is incredible. Though typically Jones,Olivera,Sterling,Izzy(Silva Prior), Edwards; long lean cardiocentric bodies give a world of problems to their competition. Something is to be said about the tanks tho. Khabib,DuPlesis,Figgy, Usman(to an extent). Volk shows the technical-tank prowess of a DC or Triple C but the arms of the long slender type.
I've forreal been waiting for somebody to talk about this. Dude has long arms, small torso, small stocky legs, and no neck (not even trying to be funny dudes neck is literally nonexistent). Having no neck makes it hard as hell to submit him and his stocky legs make it hard to take him down.
the guy basically has everything, reach, chin, speed, cardio, boxing, defense, volume, footwork, great wrestling, great ground and pound, fight IQ, improving, and the passion to wanna improve and feel comfortable in all this, he doesn't look nervous before fights at all.
He doesn't have long legs... that's not a joke. Considering how much he loves to kick, I know he would have been great with longer legs
@@ant2011nah, his short legs allow him to be possibly the worst human to have in your guard.
@@ant2011 in the yair fight volk's low kicks weren't connecting half of the time.. it looked very funny him trying to kick blank void.... wouldn't have mattered any way he was so much better in every other department i knew he had it
Same as Ilia just Ilia is less seasoned. Let's see what happens. Id say Ilia loses but it will be a battle.
@@stephenr80 I don't think its going to be a battle. Illia is pretty much straight up worse than Volk in every conceivable category, and he didn't look amazing versus Bryce or Emmett who both kind of suck ass. Volk basically said he doesn't want to talk about how bad Illia actually is, technically, because he wants the fight to sell.
I think that at this point, Volk is *the* universal short King, not just a short King.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The short emperor
Mighty Mouse actually
@@grahamhill676 Actually not
@kylerBD He's shorter and achieved a lot more. So yeah, probably more of a short king than Volk atm. Not to say Volk won't be THE king, but he isn't yet.
This is why Alexander Volkanovski has the most aesthetic physique
Its treason then, bruv
all the leon asthetic fans are screaming rn😭😭
It's true
I’d say Leon
I knew that was coming before I even clicked on the video lol
Volk actually confirmed on a podcast with Craig Jones that he's 5'5, and said he's only 5'6 with shoes on. The UFC is known for inflating height stats for whatever reason.
You are correct, your comment is underrated. There is no better source to approve facts than the actual individual answering in question, Alexander Volkanovski said it himself he's 5'5".
Here is the proof from that podcast interview with Craig Jones... (3:04) czcams.com/video/omh9oCkVkV4/video.html
@@GorgeousBabyBlueWaterthanks for the vid and time stamp homie 🙌🏻
@@godofdreamzzz No worries, enjoy the weekend. UFC Fight Night Holm vs Bueno Silva is on right now. 🥋🥊💥🤼👍
He is extremely short with a weird body… huge head, no neck, long arms, short stumpy legs and a big torso 🥴
and just as they inflate heights, they inflate the reach also. imo even more than heights. i don't care how wide shouldered or broad chested some fighters are, their reach is inflated just like their height.
The diversity of body types in MMA truly makes it one if the best sports there is.
That is not a good metric.
Baseball have much more diversity.
@@gonkong5638😂
@@gonkong5638base ball is the most boring sport in the universe
@@AZZA5102Golf in the corner : 😳
The way he can make adjustments in between camp and during the fight is crazy. He's sooo good at setups and listening to his corner in between midnight .
to me personally the second Max fight was his most impressive performance, he lost the first two rounds and was getting dropped, and made adjustments and came back and won the last 3 rounds.
Yeah bro honestly what makes dude special is his ability to still add layers to his game bro when he fought Mendes he was a good striker but man once he fought TKZ his boxing was just on another level
It's not just that he listens to his corner, but he has an engaged dialogue with them. I think it was during the Makhachev fight where I really heard him for the first time, telling his coaches what he thought was happening, and them giving him insightful feedback. But he seemed like he was leading the discussion, even in the later rounds. The guy has a fight IQ that is off the charts.
@@mikedangerdoes his irt fight IQ is the highest UFC has ever seen,i believe. he does reads faster than every1 and can hold multiple things/calculations in his mind at once. he recognizes when the opponent reads him, and goes to a second then 3rd pattern. because his mind works faster, he faints about one per second (how u gonna respond? how u gonna respond to this?) and gives opponent cognitive exhaustion. they can barely make reads anymore, to fast, too complex, and they fall into confusion. ive seen him describe some of these things in different interviews. he is the first to ever win by cognitive exhaustion. i remember luke thomas saying "who the hell would have ever thought of doing that!".
Bro I’m 5’7 and this guy is the hero for all short kings
Bruce Lee?
Hitler?
@@oddalfhutlur6760Hitler was average sized 5’9
5'7 isn't short.
@@DancyHercules3 5'7 is short bro it's below average height
People calling his stature a non factor are delusional. During one of those ESPN games they do with fighters they had max and alex draw each other and when max drew him he drew him with the longest arms possible and said something in the meaning of "dude got a crazy reach you really can't tell until you fight him"
Having reach and knowing how to use it aren’t the same. But definitely an advantage that he has taken “advantage” of
No pun intended
it must feel wild because his reach is longer than other featherweights, but since he's also faster and has great timing, it must feel like he's hitting them from a place they can't hit him back
Everytime I watch Volkanovski fighting, I'm flabbergasted by how fricking long his arms are. When he's on guard, his arms cover all of his torso and also protects his face. My man is a Geodude
nggg a there are many with great reach, and clearly those people didnt make it. what the f does reach give you if you fight taller opponents anyway?
He got them orangutan arms
Isn't it so beautiful that in mma not your body but your skillset and experience define your wins. Honestly I think that Volk is so good because he constantly becomes better. From each fight back to back his performance never fails to amaze me.
nah body matters a lot. that short neck is the difference between him getting submitted or not. thats a HUGE deal. having a chin is also another thing you cant really train. same with reach. theres a reason why tall lengthy guys are dominating and the one small guy has a insane reach so he doesnt count as short.
As well as Volk having no sleep after USADA woke him up. He had to take sleeping tablets to get back to sleep which he states still made him drowsy until half way through the fight.
This is the biggest factor, sure he does have some advantages being shorter with long arms and thick neck. But, his mindset on improving everyday and taking up new challenges with his immense discipline and work ethic, makes the REAL difference.
It’s knowing how to maximize your physical advantages while minimizing your weaknesses that’s the most important thing.
@@johnmarkson1998There’s really no way to design a study to confirm it explicitly but you can almost definitely work on your chin
As far as what the best body type might be, I think reach is more important than height. The "tall, lengthy" archetype is an archetype because BEING tall generally means being long, and long is what matters most if you understand how to utilize your range. Hitting without the possibility of getting hit is an overwhelming advantage if utilized correctly.
No bro. His body doesn't make him great. He is just that great. With that dermination, focus, iq and understanding the fight game so well, it wouldn't matter what type of body he has. His size has strengths and weaknesses, but HE doesn't. Hes not the only one with that physique, but no one is just as good as him with it. Its credit to him. He'll work with what he has
He himself said his reach is inaccurate on the ufc profile. Many fighters have the wrong height and reach on their profiles. I believe he still has long arms for his height but you should not just believe what is written on the UFC fighter profiles.
@@johnconor5485His reach is around 70 I think
@@frenchonion4595that’s still fucking long 😭
You can be to long and tall , 6’4 is the max a fighter can be before it starts negatively effecting him
Volk said his reach is not accurate in a press conference after his last fight. I think his wide stocky frame adds to his reach and he jus has really good distance management
his wide frame adds to his reach lol you don't say.. that's literally how reach is measured, by width, fingertip to fingertip.
@FistfulOfGabagool Reach fingertip to fingertip is not the same as the reach when throwing a punch. If his shoulders are wide with a long reach, he means his arms are not as long as people think. This mean that when he's in a stance, his "reach" doesn't exactly match-up to what people think. Combined with short legs, he has to do a lot more distance management than most people think. Not sure why you tried to counter this, if Volk said it himself then we have to believe it, cause who knows Volk more than Volk?
@@BRUCEYBOY you rotate your torso when you throw punches, you don't stand square. so that wide frame is a part of the length of your fully extended punch. watch the end position of a fully extended jab or a right cross and pay attention to the torso angle in relation to the extended arm. there's a reason they measure wingspan in boxing and not arm length.
@@FistfulOfGabagool you dont alway s rotate your torso. you ever did sparring? you know what fookin telegraphing a punch means??? Also muay thai fighters do stand square. they utilize leg kicks and check kicks
@@qefewfwdcwdc i trained and fought muay thai in thailand. the stance is relatively square but you still rotate into your punches. if you don't rotate you're just throwing fluff to set up kicks which is basically feinting. kicks score higher in muay thai plus the large gloves make punches not as effective especially considering most thai fighters are under 150lbs, they're not exactly power punchers.. anyway volk does not use a muay thai stance or style so even if you were right about muay thai(you're not) it would have nothing to do with volk.
Alex took "short king" to a whole different lvl😂
The term short king was made for Volk hahaha, the rest are just short
Cejudo is another short king
@@sam0095 With little T-Rex arms 😂
It is often said that Volk carried strength from his rugby days, but that’s also the source of his composure. After years of running full speed into multiple defenders every weekend, one on one competition isn’t scary.
One on one competition is definitely more daunting, because you’re all alone in the cage. No teammates to blame when things go wrong. The strength I think is definitely legit though.
@@rico14 the position he played in rugby though, meant his job was to be the guy that went by himself into the line of defenders, so that self confidence probably translates well into mma
The decade of mma helps too. Rugby volk is long gone.
Rugby is very different to mma trust me 🤣 sure physically it defo helped him, but rugby is peanuts compared
@leopers9225 , he was playing Rugby at 214 lbs, thats the difference. That would be equal to fighting in Lightheavyweight MMA, Jones and DC's division. Volk cut weight to 145 lbs, thus he has the strength and durability that no 145 lbs fighter has, or even no 155 lbs fighters except for few like Khabib or Makhachev.
Well said. I’m only 5’7” and it’s crazy and inspiring that someone even shorter than me can be dominant in the sport. Alex is THE short king 👑 🫡
"Jamahal Hill, who is the current 205 champ" lol this aged so fast
😅
The number 1 thing i think you forgot but is crazy important, volk has wildly short legs, but the torso length is more similar to, say, a large welterweight. So yes, hes very short, but his torso is much larger than what his height would have you think. What does this lead to? Well, it lends him a massive pair of lungs, and huge heart for his overall stature, and meanwhile his legs being so short give him a short momentum arm (massive strength advantage) and as such are much more efficient than longer legs. This is literally the perfect build for cardio. Thats why volk never gets tired!
Exactly. He’s almost got a swimmers frame. Have a look at the Olympic swimmers. They’ve generally got this greater torso to legs ratio. Not only that but Volk has got the lats of a swimmer or surfer. Maybe he’s done a bit of surfing down on the south coast of NSW.
@@valueinvestor77 yeah because you instantly grow gigantic lats from surfing. Ever heard of genetics?
@@dersatansschuh4426 yeah you do grow massive lats from swimming and surfing. That’s actually a fact.
@@valueinvestor77 yeah I guess the world class MMA fighter grew his lats from surfing and not from strength training, makes sense buddeh
Then why does Michael Chandlers cardio suck
Why has this been a topic lately? I feel like only in the last two weeks have people come to realize how underrated of a build volk has
I've been watching this sport since 2005. Volk has one of the best IQs in the game, ever.
Beyond his body type, what makes Volk stand out imo is his uncommon quickness, especially for his build, and he shows exceptional skill in hopping in and out of the pocket. In terms of body, his short neck not only reduces ko chance, but the reduced angle is also better able to glance/deflect strikes to the neck/head. He also isn’t afraid to enter the pocket and strike, which is necessary but not always seen in shorter fighters.
Clearly the best pfp fighter in the world, perhaps just above jon jones
volks bodytype allows him to be more diverse and either go in or keep the opponent away
Volk being bald is am advantage imo. Because when he sweats, his head is slippery, making it easier to slip out
Lol
Everyone though Jones had the best build, crazy reach, absurdly long legs, tiny torso
Turns out the hobbit build is what peak performance actually looks like
Well, PER POUND of bodyweight, it's not that surprising, actually.
#EconomyClass
It varies by fighters. Volk isnt the only one with this body type, its actually really common in combat sports in general. Volk is just that good
In the Ortega fight when he escaped the submission attempts and then switched it around to beat the shit out of Brian was both terrifying and awesome to watch.
About the neck size to KO correlation part: Look at GGG’s neck, and look at Amir Khan’s neck. Building your neck 1000% helps prevent KOs.
I always thought Ortega could have submitted him if he had a longer neck, dude has no neck, when someone has his back he starts laughing like "you can't choke out a man with no neck bro"
It's so cool watching one of the greats rise, he is truly an amazing fighter but why did he have to do that to my boy.
He's a freak on so many levels. The fact that he's 34 and still improving also impresses me. And his work ethic.... Everyone in the UFC has a ridiculous work ethic, but Volk is a damn cyborg. His fight IQ also surprises me. I'm definitely a fan!!!
short stature with long arms is a pretty op combination truly
Or just a short torso in general, Jose Aldo was without debate the best striker on earth for years because his legs were so long in comparison to his height, and the shortness also made it easier to stuff takedowns, which is why Jose was known as the anti-wrestler
Ironically his shortness made it easy for Islam to kick him in the head
Can't have the cake and eat it too.
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog
Nah lol it’s just he’s so good we’re only focusing on his advantages that he made it to his advantage also he himself said he doesn’t have 71 inch reach
You aren't going to be champion of the world without physical advantages. So many people work hard and just have lesser talent. Not taking away anything from Volk, but you need hard work and physical advantages to be a (dominant) champion, for the most part. Look at Jon Jones, Volk, GSP (never had a reach disadvantage), and Izzy
of course he doesn't. you're one of the few people who realize this. he probably does have slightly longer reach than his height, but it's definitely not 71.5 inches...
he is underappreciated and underrated only because he is short. Heightpill is real.
All you have to do is become the number 1 pfp fighter in the world bro
@@saulspanco854 It's easy, with all the advantages.
(joke)
He is probably the most loved ufc right now?
What are u wafffling about? He’s the most appreciated UFC current fighter, people are overall are shittin on jones as we speak by takin him over him.
I used to do muay and lethwei with a burman built like Volk.
Im 6ft and wide, with a 76" reach. This 5'5 burman with long arms and short legs held out in every round striking and wrestling. He was the best training partner. Miss him.
im built with the same dimensions 😭😭
6ft is average or below average height
@@-Ice_Cold- only in a few parts of the world. Most of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are under 6. Though the average global height is increasing.
@@-Ice_Cold-6 ft is average in the Netherlands and among sime african tribes. The average height for a man in the rest if the world ranges from 5'8 to 5'10. Wtf are you people smoking?
we all knew he was different after the ortega fight honestly, absolute goat
Johnny Bones and Volk are when elite skills/IQ meet elite physical characteristics. Almost impossible for their opponents to execute a winning game plan
Bones IQ is overrated. Half of his wins are against middleweights and old dudes.
Great video man, love the analysis and breakdown, keep it up
I think it has less to due with what type of build someone has rather than how they use it. As you said the way Volk fights matches to his build.
It helps being 5’6 when your opponents are 5’11 - and you both are in the same weight class. They’ll both weigh the same, but more of Volk’s weight comes from muscle, when his opponent’s heights partially come from their height
I don't think anyone utilizes their ground and pound damage output approach as good as Volk does. That's just ONE aspect of his Huge bag of tricks when it comes to MMA skills and fight IQ adjustment abilities. It's insane
Jon jones
Any body type can work for fighting as long as you find that sytle and weight class that works for your body type.
The strongest 1,68 meters man in the world
I don't think volk's reach matters as much as people think it does cuz ultimately as a short fighter ur punching up, which takes off some of that reach and power, and volk likes ducking and weaving in and out, so in reality his reach is basically even with most fighters in his weight class despite having really long arms. The long arms help, but by attributing so much of his success to his body type ur taking away from the insane amount of prep work, conditioning and game planning that makes volk and his team excel.
And a tall fighters punches down at a angle so still the taller fighters reach shortens
And as a shorter fighter you can duck but as a taller fighter you can't duck
it neutralizes the advantages of taller fighters like max/yair while also giving him all the advantages of being short and stocky(grapping, takedown/submission defense, lower center of mass, etc.) which the taller fighters lack. so he has the best of both worlds. he's like DC with a jon jones reach, it's tremendous.
@KereTista-km9ck yes
@KereTista-km9ck and taller fighters need to punch down so no they lose reach against shorter fighters
@KereTista-km9ck don't @ me if you have nothing of substance to say.
Height doesn’t matter much if you’ve got reach, height in itself isn’t the real positive gain, it’s the reach that usually follows, and then again mass - but they’ll all weigh the same.
You are being silly if you really think that.
Height adds each. Generally, your kicks are longer the taller you are. For Volk, his reach helps him with body shot, but he still has to punch up, which shortens reach. A tall guy meanwhile can go low, punch and have more effective reach.
I don’t get the thick neck thing, I’ve always found thick necks easier to submit. The short neck makes sense but thicker seems easier to submit because the carotid arteries are easier to squeeze.
Good point, but maybe it's also more difficult to squeeze something if you can't easily get around it, and thick stuff is harder to get around than thin stuff.
Although admittedly your arms should always be long enough to get around people's necks, so I don't quite understand that part either.
But maybe in thicker necks there's more room for the arteries to 'duck down', if you know what I mean, maybe it's harder to press them off *completely* cause there's more 'give' towards the neck centre, and so therefore there's still some blood/oxygen going to the brain, even if you're pressing onto them a little.
So yes, you can get a squeeze, but not a 'complete squeeze', maybe... Dunno.
@@_munkykok_ I guess it depends on the people involved, both make sense, but that’s just what I’ve noticed in my experience.
@@supersaiyansalamence Fair point, I still need to test this.
@@supersaiyansalamence maybe if its a lot of muscle he can flex neck muscles and protect his artery a bit.
Awesome video bro!
Any body types can be a champ it is all about how you use your body type. It is MMA not boxing nor Kickboing.
Volk is just such a good rounded fighter
Great video. Will sub
Islam vs volk was always such a crossroad match up for me. I train at AKA and see Islam there and even roll with him along with other pro fighters there sometimes. But I have a build similar to volk where I was actually like 205 for football but slimmed down do training in mma. I also have as much reach as my friends who are like 6’4. I want Islam to win because he my teammate but volk gives hope to all the ppl out there who wasn’t blessed with height like me.
That's pretty cool that you train at AKA, make sure to enjoy your time with those guys.
who was really the best? islam or khabib?
Every time someone becomes an all time great somebody finds a reason that his body style is so damn good for mma
One important aspect to consider as well is that his torso is extremely long compared to his legs which gives a massive advantage during full guard positions, in both roles. From the bottom he'll be able to keep the opponent away from him, and from the top it's going to be hard for the opponent to keep him out of range.
that small and has longer reach than holloway truly a freak of nature
All of a sudden I’m happy to be short
Volk himself has said that those reach stats are incorrect and that his arms are shorter. He's manipulating the range with his footwork and feints more than anything else. Also, he relies on kicks A LOT in order to extend his reach.
How long is it tho even if it was 69 or 70 it’s still long even for his height
fyi, he said his 71" reach was fake in his post fight interviews for the Yair fight.
The truth is there is no best body type, you just need to master a style that suits it/you
That dude is really the STACK KING!
Shortbros... we're back
It's NOT his body type that makes him so good.... It's his mind
@@zainalrawi no
It's not like if he didn't had this body type he wouldn't be as good, but it's not like it isn't a advantage
Thank you lol Volk's focus, drive, iq and overall knowledge of the fight game is what seperates him. Hes not the only fighter every with this build. Hes just that damn good! We're not gnna give glory to his parents DNA or god making him short, it belittles the work Volk put in. Its his mentality. Hes worked with what he got and perfects his craft it wouldnt matter what type of build he has with his brain
@@poporiporohe build itself has its strength and weaknesses. But Volk doesnt have weaknesses. Volk is not the only combat athlete with the build
@@swed8506 this 🙌😎
I should do a video on why you havent made an Errol Spencd vs Terrance Crawford Video. Thats really the biggest fight of this year so far hands down 🤷🏾
A long reach- short stature combination is even more rare, than either a lanky or stocky a build, and only advantageous, because a fighter can take advantage of the weight class system.
One of the best builds to have in a smaller division
“This insane neck of his” 😂😂😂
VOLK IS GOATED MAN
You look at him and his shortness throws you for a loop but he’s got that freak reach so even though he’s tiny he can stay on the outside. He’s also a bull when it comes to strength so his wrestling game is gnarly. I actually thought Yair would give him a run bc Volk has short legs and Yair is a kicking machine and could take it to his legs and body along with his head.
Volk avoided a lot of the kicking setups because of his stance switching, which was genius. I’ve never seen someone switch stances so frequently and fluidly in a fight before. It was wild
And this is why Leon Edwards has the most aesthetic physique
He just is blessed by the Baki shortness. Wait until he learn how to use his back
let me make something very clear...the reason he escaped so many submissions in the cage is technique
its 1% to do with his short/fat neck and 99% technique and practice
your doing him dirty by saying he escaped because of the dimensions of his neck
this my brothers, is what is known as 'results based analysis'
He carries 220lbs for years and that builds bone density and tendon strength. Plus the dudes head and neck are huge compared to his body, making him very hard to KO and even harder to choke. No 145er escapes the deep guillotine Ortega had on Volk, except Volk.
Sam langford was another short fighter with crazy reach which helped him beat heavyweights while weighing about 165 lbs
Alex and Demetrious been tellin yall
Alex recently started that he actually doesn't have the reported reach.
I wish we could verify it
Volk is literally built different. I'm only 5ft4 (163cm) but have monkey reach at 5ft7.5 (171cm). I can out jab most people in my weight class due to reach
i think floyd mayweather is also someone that is short (especially in the higher weight classes) but has very long arms for his height. Probably helped him a lot as well and it also made it so he was able to almost completely block his body because of his long arms.
Helped him with his style alot
I don't think being short is an advantage but long arms (high "ape index") seems to show up a lot among top fighters. GSP and Jon Jones both have long arms, even for their height. I would also note that all three (Mayweather, GSP, and Jon Jones) all switch stances. Then again, Khabib doesn't have long arms and was arguably the most dominant fighter of all time, so it seems like all body types have a chance.
@@poleagkhabib being the most dominant fighter of all time is a good joke
@@asetr3w45 When was he ever in trouble brotha?
He is basically human Crash Bandicoot.
Bro. I’m 5’7” with a 71” wingspan and short, stubby ass neck and this is like the first time I feel good about my physique lol.
That physics is op if you know how to use it bro
He’s the real version of Wolverine
“WOAH, VERY FANTASTIC BODY”
Great video. Btw you sound like Marc Raimondi
This video is 100% spot on.
I think, if headbutts were allowed, people with giant heads would start climbing up the rankings.
Marvin Vettori would be the GOAT by now if headbutts were legal
Something I realized being lil shorter and having to fight taller opponents, is that when they hit me they hit my forehead or nose most of the time but when I hit them its almost always on the chin
TJ, you plan on doing some vids for the July 29th cards? (Spence vs. Crawford, Poirier vs. Gaethje 2)
Alexander Volkanovski has great grappling defense
I was lucky enough to work with his strength & conditioning coach and train at his gym throughout the fight camp against Yair. Volkanovski is on a different level, I call his physique the 'hybrid fighter' as he literally has every desirable quality for combat sports.
I only boxed for 3 years but never came across more explosive and brick filled fisted fighters than the short stocky ones.
I also believe they are more explosive.
Maybe it has to do with the center of gravity and being so compact, it can make you faster at positioning properly, which is crucial for throwing good punches.
Plus maybe it's also psychological, in part, because they realize they have to be precise and fast, cause slowness won't win them any races.
Whereas taller guys might be tempted to think that with their sheer mass and strength they can overpower people eventually, overlooking the importance of speed and tactics and so forth, until it's too late.
@@_munkykok_combination of both
His arm reach is actually 164cms long if you go back to his old fights before the ufc
I think any build is good for fighting but having a long reach is always an advantage
legends says that Volk was a 7 foot 2 455 pound silverback gorilla strength back in his heyday in rugby
reach measurement is deceptive becauce it's measured with arms out wide which accounts also for shoulder width. Even if Volk's total reach comes out as longer than the opponent's it doesn't mean that his punches will reach further because short arm measurements can be compensated for with shoulder width...even with Holloway Volk might have the longer total reach but you can clearly see Max's actual arms are longer
HBO Boxing uses an " arm length" measurement taken from the armpit to the fist. That's the number that really matters and I wish the UFC would start doing it too.
The more I learn about rugby the more I think it’s just the perfect non combat sport to transition from, American footballs similar but you’ve got pads so there’s an illusion of safety but in rugby it’s all doooggggg!
#DAAAAAAAAAAWG
"The illusion of safety" is a great way to describe it. Wearing a helmet and pads makes things somewhat safer but the helmet and pads also means people can hit harder.
Volk and DC out here holding it down for short kings
Shout out to the Height Challenged Kings
I think Volk is truly one of a kind. His build + Reach helps. But his Mentality towards the game is incredible. Though typically Jones,Olivera,Sterling,Izzy(Silva Prior), Edwards; long lean cardiocentric bodies give a world of problems to their competition. Something is to be said about the tanks tho. Khabib,DuPlesis,Figgy, Usman(to an extent). Volk shows the technical-tank prowess of a DC or Triple C but the arms of the long slender type.
Alex is a beast man.
Nah, he's human. But stick a couple horns on him and yeah, he's good to go.
Oakenshield Volk, the real life warrior dwarf
"And even we have Jamal Hill" 😅
It aged well
Height and reach are an advantage to the fighter who uses it to there advantage
I've forreal been waiting for somebody to talk about this. Dude has long arms, small torso, small stocky legs, and no neck (not even trying to be funny dudes neck is literally nonexistent). Having no neck makes it hard as hell to submit him and his stocky legs make it hard to take him down.
Man has that OP gibbon build