Alexander
Volkanovski has shared the cage with some of the world’s best
mixed martial artists, but his latest opponent presented a very
different challenge.
The two-time
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight titleholder
recently squared off with fellow Australian Jordan Mailata, the
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman and Super Bowl winner, in a
series of unconventional challenges. For Volkanovski, this meant
facing the much larger Mailata, who stands at 6-foot-8.
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Alexander Volkanovski submits Philadelphia Eagles lineman
Jordan Mailata in UFC-NFL challenge
The matchup began with Volkanovski and Mailata testing their
punching power on a machine before the NFL star volunteered to
absorb body shots from the UFC veteran.
Volkanovski then managed to take the much larger athlete off his
feet before eventually securing a choke. Mailata was able to lift
Volkanovski off the ground at one point, showcasing the obvious
size difference between the pair.
Despite the physical mismatch, Mailata remained a good sport
throughout the challenges, although he occasionally questioned why
he had agreed to participate in the challenge.
The final challenge allowed Mailata to use some of the skills that
made him an NFL standout. Tasked with protecting a dummy from
Volkanovski, the UFC champion still managed to find a way to gain
the upper hand.