Volkanovski's coach denies Jean Silva a title shot and puts Sterling ahead
Joe Lopez, Alexander Volkanovski's coach, ruled Jean Silva out of the next featherweight title shot and put Aljamain Sterling ahead of him. In his view the Brazilian has not earned the chance, which the Australian kept by beating Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi — and at 38 he now wants a super-fight with Justin Gaethje.
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O técnico de Alexander Volkanovski, Joe Lopez, foi direto ao desfazer o nome de Jean Silva da fila pelo próximo title shot dos pesos-penas. Para ele, o brasileiro não fez por onde chegar à disputa de cinturão.
A conversa ganhou peso porque o australiano vem de uma defesa histórica: no último sábado, no UFC 333, em Abu Dhabi (EAU), ele bateu o até então invicto Movsar Evloev, manteve o cinturão dos 66 kg e passou José Aldo em número de vitórias em lutas de título na categoria.
Em entrevista ao canal Submission Radio, Lopez reconheceu o barulho e o apelo comercial de Lord, mas apontou outro nome à frente: Aljamain Sterling, que segundo ele está melhor colocado no ranking e é desafiante mais formidável.
"O Jean Silva faz bastante barulho e é um ótimo lutador, mas não acho que ele conquistou essa vaga. Há muitos caras na frente dele que se saíram muito melhor", disse o treinador. "Ele é um cara forte, e só isso que tem. Se ele te pegar com um dos seus socos, obviamente pode te nocautear. Mas vendo o que o Diego fez com ele no chão, espancou ele. Se o Alex o levasse para o chão, acabou".
Lopez não é novato no assunto: já havia alfinetado Jean Silva antes e vetado um confronto dele com Volkanovski, chamando-o de "cachorrinho".
Enquanto o treinador organiza a fila, o campeão olha para outro alvo. Aos 38 anos e perto do fim da carreira, Volkanovski quer uma superluta contra Justin Gaethje, disputando o cinturão dos leves (70 kg) em busca de um eventual bicampeonato. Na leitura dele, seria uma espécie de despedida dos dois veteranos. Falta saber se a cúpula do UFC compra a ideia.
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