AUSTIN, TEXAS: Joe Rogan witnessed UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev's stunning first-round victory over Alexander Volkanovski, achieved through a head kick.
Rogan commended Makhachev for his extraordinary display, leaving the MMA community astounded by the Dagestani Destroyer's highlight-reel-worthy head kick that led to Volkanovski's defeat.
It's worth noting that Joe Rogan, renowned for his iconic reactions, has been an integral part of the UFC experience for decades.
Despite not being part of the official UFC broadcast team for UFC 294, he observed the event through the Fight Companion broadcast.
Joe Rogan praises Islam Makhachev
In a video titled "Islam Makhachev Knocks Out Alexander Volkanovski Full Fight Reaction," Joe Rogan and his companions, including heavyweight standout Brendan Schaub and comedian Bryan Callen, shared their reactions to Islam Makhachev's head kick knockout.
After witnessing the fight, Rogan praised Makhachev for adding new techniques to his fighting repertoire.
At the 2:50 mark in the video, Rogan exclaimed, “It was amazing. Shin to the dome, son! Opened up a cut. It was perfect… Wow! Islam, man! He showed a bunch of new s**t... That front kick he was throwing to the body and then he threw the same kick to the head…!”
The fight clip rapidly gained popularity on various social media platforms, including Twitter and YouTube.
Moreover, Volkanovski took on Islam Makhachev in a rematch on just 12 days' notice after Makhachev's initial opponent, Charles Oliveira, withdrew due to a serious eyebrow injury.
While many experts expected Makhachev to gain an advantage in the later rounds due to his superior preparation and cardio, the Dagestani fighter found a way to exploit Volkanovski's vulnerability to head kicks, ultimately finishing the fight in the first round.
This victory decisively put an end to the competitive rivalry between the two fighters and thwarted Volkanovski's pursuit of becoming a two-division champion.
Internet reacts to Islam Makhachev & Alexander Volkanovski showdown
After watching the fight reaction video on YouTube, numerous fans joined the discussion in the comments section to share their thoughts on the bout between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
One fan commented, "Islam just proved who is the pound-for-pound UFC King ? What a vicious head kick. Marvelous."
Another fan wrote, "Respect to both. Kind of sad we didn’t get to see a longer fight with these two legends."
A fan stated, "Not gonna lie I expected Makhachev to win but not by knockout."
One more user wrote, "Joe recognizing Islam was setting up the head kick with the body kicks as quickly as he did is impressive. It really shows knowledge and wisdom analyzing a fight as he did there❤"
Another user wrote, "Islam won and stay calm after savagery ko volk, warrior mentality."
