Volkanovski Eyes Next Fight At Lightweight – ‘Charles Oliveira Lined Up’
Alex Volkanovski plans on fighting again at lightweight for his next fight.
Volkanovski’s time at lightweight has not been successful at the elite level. He faced UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev twice at UFC 284 and UFC 294. In the first fight, Volkanovski lost a unanimous decision. However, many felt he had done enough to win. He took the rematch on less than two weeks’ notice. However, he would get knocked out in round two.
After the defeat, Volkanovski admitted he had mistakenly taken the bout on such short notice. However, the decision was influenced by his desire to remain active and keep his mental health intact. Volkanovski would then lose his UFC Featherweight Title after getting stopped by Ilia Topuria at UFC 298. While Volkanovski wants the rematch, it appears Topuria will fight Max Holloway next.
Volkanovski Reacts
Holloway called out Topuria after beating Justin Gaethje to become the BMF Champion at UFC 300. Topuria agreed to take the fight, provided the BMF Title was on the line. Holloway was unhappy, feeling that a BMF contender should fight regardless of whether a title is on the line. But those obstacles appear to have been resolved, with Volkanovski expecting Topuria vs. Holloway next. Given he cannot wait for Topuria, Volkanovski wants to remain active.
“I’ve heard Ilia and Max is confirmed so I need to talk with the UFC and see what’s going on. I’d said I wanted some time off, and the UFC wanted me to take some time off, so if that fight is made I need to be okay with it. I can’t expect the UFC to wait for me. But if they are going to do Ilia and Max, I just hoped it would be earlier because I want to fight this year, I don’t want to wait.
“So if there is no title fight until next year then I need something exciting — maybe Charles Oliveira. There are others but I think Michael Chandler will keep waiting for Conor McGregor and I think Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje also want to wait a bit. There is nobody (at featherweight) that excites me, or that I haven’t fought already. And they’ve said my next one there is the title fight,” Volkanovski said
Should He Fight?
Nevertheless, facing Oliveira is a risk. Charles is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. However, he lost the belt to Makhachev at UFC 280 in 2022. He won his next fight against Beneil Dariush, only to lose his last bout against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. Volk risks losing his title if he faces Oliveira. But the Australian thrives on taking challenges, even if it is at the expense of following conventional wisdom. However, with two losses in a row, the Australian must focus on doing what is right.
“The Great’ Volkanovski has admitted that he would be in risk of losing his featherweight title shot by fighting the former lightweight champion, but he would rather do that than sitting out and waiting. Of course (it’s a risk), but I’d rather take that risk than wait around. What happens if you wait around and fall off the edge? If all of a sudden you’re 36 and literally it goes. I still feel great but there is a risk of that. Or maybe I wait it out, get injured and then suddenly you haven’t fought in two years,” Volk added
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