Alexander Volkanovski Pulls Off Stunning Second Round TKO Against Chad Mendes

A new contender has emerged in the featherweight division after Alexander Volkanovski finished Chad Mendes with a second round TKO at UFC 232.

Since first debuting in the Octagon, Volkanovski has looked like a future title contender but he had yet to face a legitimate top five ranked threat until Saturday night.

Obviously the Australian slugger knew he had his hands full with a former two-time title challenger in Mendes but he showed no fear as soon as the two fighters engaged a the start of the first round.

Almost immediately, Volkanovski was stalking Mendes across the cage while establishing a slick left jab that was constantly popping his opponent in the face. Mendes was undetered, however, and he kept coming back with powerful combinations and even managed a brief takedown against the cage.

The second round saw the momentum shift dramatically after Mendes clipped Volkanovski with a big hook that quickly dropped the former rugby player down to the canvas for a moment.

Mendes swarmed on him with a barrage of punches and it looked for a moment like he might have stung Volkanovski bad enough to put him away. Unfortunately for Mendes, Volkanovski not only survived but he showcased incredible durability by absorbing his best shots and then once again coming after him with unadulterated ferocity.

As Mendes started to slow ever so slightly, Volkanovski just started to pour on the punishment with a relentless pace and every punch thrown looking for the knockout.

Finally after tagging Mendes with several shots, Volkanovsk trapped him against the cage and unleashed a hellacious combination including a perfectly timed right hand that blasted the Team Alpha Male fighter on the temple and dropped him to the canvas.

Volkanovski followed up with one more short shot but the fight was already over as the referee swooped into stop the contest.

The official time was 4:14 into the second round.

VOLKANOVSKI HAS ARRIVED!!!#UFC232 pic.twitter.com/f874DKcP2e

— UFC (@ufc) December 30, 2018

With a statement win like that, Volkanovski has put everybody in the featherweight division on notice and he made sure to send a message to current champion Max Holloway just in case he wasn’t watching.

“I knew this would get me in the top five. He’s only lost to the greats and he just lost to another great,” Volkanovski said. “I’m Max Holloway’s worst nightmare.”