Franksfightclub Wyatt Thomas interview on Volkanovski and the NFL

The Franksfightclub Wyatt Thomas interview ranged from Alexander Volkanovski’s next move to the NFL playoff race. Franksfightclub told Thomas that Volkanovski should retire on top after another featherweight win or two, picked Prates to stop Morales in the later rounds, and named the San Francisco 49ers his Super Bowl favorite if they stay healthy. He also weighed in on Petr Yan, the Cleveland Browns and DK Metcalf.

What did Franksfightclub say about Alexander Volkanovski’s retirement?

Franksfightclub wants Alexander Volkanovski to remain at featherweight for one or two more fights and retire if he beats a contender such as Aaron Pico. Although he considers Volkanovski the better overall fighter than Justin Gaethje, he would pick Gaethje if Volkanovski moved up to lightweight because of the size and power difference.

Volkanovski’s finish and the early betting picks

The discussion began with Franksfightclub’s bets on the fight card. After the line moved to make Volkanovski’s opponent the favorite, he backed Volkanovski on the money line. He noted that many bettors had picked Volkanovski by decision, but Volkanovski got a finish instead.

Franksfightclub also backed Alexander Volkov, Cody Steele to win by finish and Daniel Santos on the money line. He lost bets on two other fighters who were finished, leaving him with what he described as an up-and-down card.

Staying at featherweight or facing Justin Gaethje

For Volkanovski’s future, the question is not simply whether he can compete at lightweight. Franksfightclub believes the extra weight, height and strength Gaethje brings would matter even though he rates Volkanovski more highly as a fighter. He pointed to Max Holloway’s success against Gaethje as an example of why results between different opponents do not settle that matchup.

Franksfightclub put his preferred ending for Volkanovski plainly:

I would prefer if he stays in featherweight for at least one to two more. But I think if he beats a guy like Silva or Pico, he should just retire after that. Like, stay out on top.

Who does Franksfightclub want Petr Yan to fight next?

Franksfightclub expects Sean O’Malley to be the bigger fight for Petr Yan and thinks Yan would win their rematch. He also discussed Song Yadong, Umar Nurmagomedov, Mario Bautista and Merab Dvalishvili as part of a wider set of bantamweight matchups rather than treating Yan’s next opponent as the division’s only decision.

In weighing O’Malley against Yadong, he suggested Yan might have had a reason to focus on the higher-ranked Yadong while Yadong was sitting nearby. Even so, Franksfightclub thought O’Malley was the matchup Yan would be given. He said Yan had dominated Yadong in his view.

His other proposed fights were a Nurmagomedov–Dvalishvili rematch and Yadong against Bautista if O’Malley got the Yan fight. He also floated Payton Talbott against Cory Sandhagen as a way to bring an up-and-coming fighter into another significant matchup. Looking back at Yan’s career, the conversation touched on his finish of José Aldo and his fight with Marcus McGhee.

How does Franksfightclub view Pereira against Pavlovich at heavyweight?

Franksfightclub sees Sergei Pavlovich as a reasonable favorite against Alex Pereira but would consider Pereira at the price being discussed. His central question is whether Pereira can carry enough size into a heavyweight fight. If Pereira can handle that difference, Franksfightclub believes his striking gives him a strong chance.

He was not especially convinced by Pavlovich’s list of wins and argued that a Pavlovich victory would say more about Pereira being too small than about Pavlovich looking exceptional. At the same time, he recognized the risk Pereira would face against a heavier puncher.

As for what follows a loss, Franksfightclub raised the possibility of Pereira returning to light heavyweight for another fight. He also considered the idea of Pereira winning a belt there again and retiring, but presented that as a possible path, not a plan Pereira had announced.

Why does Franksfightclub pick Prates vs Morales to end in a stoppage?

Franksfightclub picks Prates to stop Morales in the later, championship rounds. He expects Prates to keep Morales at range with Muay Thai striking and land consistently on the feet. Morales’ power makes a finish the other way possible, he said, but he considers Prates a particularly difficult matchup for him.

Size is part of that assessment. Thomas noted Morales’ large frame, and Franksfightclub agreed that Morales has more body mass. He argued, however, that Prates also has the reach and frame to challenge him in ways previous opponents have not.

Franksfightclub described Morales as raw compared with Prates on the feet. Discussing the Toronto card, he predicted that Prates would land throughout the fight before securing a late knockout. It was a firm pick, while still acknowledging that Morales could change the fight with his power.

Who are Franksfightclub’s NFL Super Bowl favorites?

Franksfightclub considers the San Francisco 49ers the best Super Bowl pick if their players are healthy when it matters. He sees a less settled race in the AFC, where he mentioned the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars as strong overall teams and discussed the Buffalo Bills as another contender whose route depends on the playoff bracket.

The 49ers and other NFC contenders

Health was the condition attached to his 49ers pick: Franksfightclub said their injuries make it hard to know what the team will look like later. He also considered the Chicago Bears a potential legitimate contender and named a Bears–49ers game as his possible NFC final. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams remained teams he thought could improve their positions.

The Chiefs, Jaguars and AFC bracket

In the AFC, he called the Jaguars a team that could make a deeper playoff run depending on its opponents. He praised the Denver Broncos’ defense but questioned their offense, and he spoke favorably about the New England Patriots’ defense when healthy.

Franksfightclub’s possible AFC final included the Chiefs against either the Bills or Jaguars. For Buffalo, he emphasized where the Bills and Chiefs might meet in the bracket rather than offering a firm prediction that one team would eliminate the other.

Why did Franksfightclub question the Cleveland Browns’ start?

Franksfightclub said the Cleveland Browns’ five wins looked less surprising once he went through their opponents. He credited the team’s young players and defense, but did not treat the win total alone as proof that the Browns would remain near the top of their division.

Going game by game, he cited wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He described the Steelers game in Cleveland as a difficult divisional trip for Pittsburgh and noted that Baltimore was without Lamar Jackson when the Browns beat the Ravens.

The Browns also had a divisional test ahead: Franksfightclub said he was going to see Steelers–Browns in Pittsburgh, with first place at stake for the winner. He felt Cleveland’s young receiving group had played well and said its defense had remained strong despite losing Myles Garrett. Those points, alongside the schedule, shaped his view of the start.

What did Franksfightclub say about DK Metcalf and the Steelers?

Franksfightclub thinks DK Metcalf is better suited to being a second receiving option than Pittsburgh’s first. He has generally liked Aaron Rodgers’ season with the Steelers, particularly after changes to the offensive line, but said Metcalf’s drops and the cost of acquiring him have remained frustrations.

Aaron Rodgers and the offensive line

His assessment of Rodgers depends heavily on protection. Franksfightclub said the Steelers’ offense struggled badly when Rodgers had no time, pointing to the Patriots and Buccaneers games as examples. When Rodgers can step into a throw or move outside the pocket, he thinks the quarterback still looks accurate.

DK Metcalf’s role and George Pickens

Metcalf, in Franksfightclub’s view, can do damage after catching a short pass, but too many dropped balls limit him as a lead receiver. He said he had opposed both the money Pittsburgh paid Metcalf and the decision to trade George Pickens. He rates Pickens more highly for his ability to adjust and make difficult catches.

That does not mean Franksfightclub sees no value in Metcalf. His distinction is between a dangerous receiver with the ball in his hands and one he trusts as a team’s primary target. It is why he would rather have Metcalf in a supporting role than build the passing game around him.