When the UFC 308 main card begins at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on pay-per-view this Saturday, one entity will have all eyes on it. No, it’s not featherweight champ Ilia Topuria’s camp and corner Team Climent Club MMA. It’s not challenger Max Holloway’s corner. Eagle-eyed to win back his gold, it’s Alexander Volkanovski. He knows all roads lead to gold. If the winner of UFC 308 can’t make a quick turnaround, Volk has ‘interim’ showdowns in mind as well.
The UFC 312 pay-per-view (PPV) event is now official for Qudos Bank Arena on February 8 (Feb. 9 local) in Sydney. Team CityKickboxing NZ’s Volk would like to fight on home soil in Australia. The three UFC pay-per-view events with the New South Wales Government (2023-27) saw Sean Strickland win gold in the first one. Now, Volkanovski wants back in the title fold.
That’s sort of where we’re at with it now — just see what happens…what are they doing if Max wins…[Max] is he fighting featherweight? Is he going to lightweight, you know, what I mean…is he doing the BMF? He’s probably doing 100% doing BMF next…does that mean ‘interim’? Does that mean me and Diego dancing, like, you know. I don’t know…um perfect world would be in Sydney.
Alexander Volkanovski to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi
Volkanovski lost his 145-pound stake at the hands of Ilia Topuria in February. However, the former UFC top Pound-for-pound is still the No. 1 top seed for gold. It’s all but a guarantee that he can contend next. But, the Aussie fears while he might, the winner of the UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) top bill won’t. There’s a chance of clinical suspensions. Both Topuria and the challenger also have eyes on the convoluted lightweight picture as well.
That goes doubly for Holloway who returned to lightweight this year to win the “BMF” sliver strap at 155 lbs. Now, with an official pound-for-pound Athlete ranking, “Blessed” might feel like returning. Meanwhile, already No. 1, winning interim gold packs Volk’s slate all the more. If the champ can’t make a relatively quick turnaround for UFC 312, he’s open to an interim clash with Diego Lopes.
Diego Lopes welcomes potential fight with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 312 in Sydney
Diego Lopes has traveled the length and breadth of the world for ‘maybe’. Four days out from the UFC 308 PPV top bill, Lopes is hoping both headlining fighters make it. He’s the emergency replacement for Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island. However, he is also scouting that ‘maybe’ there are more opportunities.
He is accordingly settling in on a February 8 pay-per-view event at Qudos Bank Arena. Lopes is fresh off a win over perennial featherweight and former title challenger Brian Ortega at this year’s Noche Pay-per-view. At a recent press conference announcing the UFC 312 event, Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) recently name-dropped him. Lopes said that if his services aren’t needed at UFC 308, he’s willing for a fight vs. Volkanovski.
I’m so excited too, to watch the fight, …I’m so excited for this Saturday night. … But if the UFC needs me, I’m ready…I’m ready for the fight vs. Volkanovski in Australia. I think it’s the biggest deal for the division for the next title fight. If the UFC me as the fighter to fight Volkanovski in Australia, I’m ready. … Title or no title, I’m excited for the fight vs. Volk.
Diego Lopes in UFC 308 pre-fight interview to MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn at UAE Warriors 55 in Abu Dhabi
In his usual classy (if unusually fluent) manner, Lopes said he hoped his services were unnecessary. But the Team Lobo Gym MMA star can’t deny facing ‘The Great’. The New Blood vs. Redemption arc always has a nice legacy billing to it. After ‘T-City’, Dan Ige, Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, and Sodiq ‘Super’ Yusuff, if he can add Volk to the list, he’ll be undeniable in every way.
