The only thing that Alexander Volkanovski knows is that his next fight will be for the featherweight title. After this Saturday’s UFC 306 main card, he is willing to hedge his bets against the red-hot Diego Lopes for that. Once the UFC’s top Pound-for-pound and 145-pound kingpin, Volk lost gold this February. Now, he is ready to get in the fold again.
The Aussie lost gold to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. Still a division topper in the UFC Athlete Rankings, he is a clear-cut choice for a title slot. Alexander Volkanovski even recently halted his double-dip double division dreams at lightweight to wait out his title shot rematch. He awaits the winner of the UFC 308 event headliner, which takes place on 26 October in Abu Dhabi.
Obviously, my next fight is for the title, depending on what happens. Are there injuries in the Max and Ilia fight? Who knows what’s going to happen…Could there be an interim with someone like Lopes? You never know, so we’ll see what happens
Alexander Volkanovski via his Official YouTube Channel (@AlexVolkanovskiOfficial)
Topuria defends his championship gold against Max Holloway at the UFC 308 pay-per-view. Short-notice legend Volkanovski makes it clear that he will only entertain an interim title fight with Diego Lopes if the winner can’t turn up within the pipeline. Meanwhile, the BJJ specialist is also in the running for promised gold.
Lopes battered Brian Ortega Saturday at the UFC 306 PPV card and called for a title shot. With four more straight wins in 11 months against Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, and Dan Ige, he is on a big streak. Already in the title conversation, Volk thus sees Lopes as a clear deterrent. If he can engage Diego Lopes and overcome him in an interim challenge, Volk cements his place.
Alexander Volkanovski provides precursor to interim battle
Alexander Volkanovski is infamous in the MMA circle as a short-notice pitcher. The Aussie fighter suffered a brutal knockout loss to Topuria. Before that, he faced the first of two knockouts in a row at the UFC 294 short-notice loss. Both the Spaniard and 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev have strongly advised him to slow his roll. However, he is not called ‘The Great’ just for mere monikers.
Alexander Volkanovski will fight for interim gold if undisputed/BMF challenges get convoluted (Source: agfight.com/heavy.com/X)Volk is always ready to pitch in; he plans to stay active during the next 9 to 12-month frame. He wanted to pitch in as backup for the Manchester UFC 304 Pay-per-view. Volkanovski, 35, also raised his hand for the UFC 303 event in June. Before that, he was ready for the milestone April UFC 300 Pay-per-view.
Alexander Volkanovski even doused challenges to 30-fight lightweight veteran Dustin Poirier, and even Conor McGregor. He stays ready again after the UFC 306 ‘Sphere’ card; now, it’s a bit more circumstantial, with him wanting to tie up challengers in a tactile interim bout.
My next fight is for the title, …But if they can’t do that soon enough, say if Max wins, is he going to go to lightweight and do BMF? Is there going to be an interim fight? I haven’t had them proper discussions, so I’ll get back to the UFC and have a proper chat with them.
Alexander Volkanovski further said
With the 145 and 155-pound weight classes having jam-packed talents eyeing gold, Volk is always on the ready. Others, like Brian Ortega, have also voiced moving up to lightweight. Meanwhile, many already gun for Holloway’s 155-pound BMF belt after he returned to lightweight five years later.
A fourth fight between Volk and Holloway could happen if the Hawaiian fighter wins at UFC 308. If not Volk vs. Topuria 2 happens, providing the Aussie fighter an opportunity for revenge and redemption. Whatever happens next, Volk will only consider if it is for an undisputed or interim title.
