Alexander Volkanovski and Jon Jones will battle for Octagon supremacy on the same night in Las Vegas if a blockbuster proposal being discussed for UFC 290 is given the green light.
Only weeks after breaking a host of Australian Pay-Per-View records, Volkanovski is now being targeted for the biggest card on the UFC calendar – International Fight Week in July.
Watch UFC 286: Edwards v Usman 3 LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday March 19 from 8am AEDT. ORDER NOW >
Better, Fox Sports Australia understands the UFC featherweight king could be sharing the annual July showcase with American superstar and new heavyweight champ Jones.
Volkanovski’s manager Ash Belcastro has also revealed Australia’s No. 1 fighter not only expects to rematch Islam Makhachev this year, but could potentially still be next up for the lightweight champ who controversially bested him at UFC 284 in February.
Belcastro also confirmed International Fight Week as the perfect date for Volkanovski to defend his UFC strap against Mexican Yair Rodriguez, who himself won the interim title on that same Perth card.
As revealed on Monday, Aussie boxer Tim Tszyu is also keen to fight his unification world title bout against Jermell Charlo in Las Vegas by July.
That would mean an incredible month for Australian sports fans, with two local fighters involved in huge global title fights just days apart.
MORE COVERAGE
‘Nobody has done that before!’ Jones’ epic GOAT statement after ‘crazy’ title upset: UFC 285 Wrap
‘Like the world’s worst sunburn’: Shocking sight in ‘unthinkable’ UFC upset
Shredded Hollywood star stuns with brutal KO win in UFC ‘debut’
Quizzed on rumours of The Great and Jones topping an International Fight Week event, Belcastro said: “Alex wants to fight in June or July, and we’d love to headline International Fight Week.
“But we’d also have no problem co-headlining with Jones, either.
“In this game, things are always changing so we’ll wait and see what the UFC says.
“But we’ve let them know Alex will be ready.
“After that, we then want Islam rematch. And we should get it by the end of the year too because it’s definitely a fight the UFC wants.
“It’s a huge fight they can sell.
“Although I can tell you Alex, he isn’t looking past Rodriguez.
“But if everything goes well, the rest of his team knows it sets up a huge fight with Makhachev at the end of the year, most likely in Abu Dhabi.
“Personally, I don’t see Makhachev fighting again until that card they have in November.
“And if Alex can then go and get the job done there, it sets up a massive trilogy bout between the pair of them”.
Back in February, Volkanovski suffered a controversial unanimous decision loss to lightweight champ Makhachev at UFC 284.
Despite initially staying atop the P4P rankings, the Wollongong native has since been pushed into second spot following the triumphant Octagon return of Jones.
After disappearing for the years, ‘Bones’ returned in spectacular fashion at UFC 285 earlier this month – needing less than a round to claim the heavyweight title from Frenchman Ciryl Gane.
The result also took the 35-year-old back to the top of the pound for pound rankings, where Volkanovski had reigned for several months.
Regardless, Belcastro said his client was now among Australia’s most popular athletes and tipped him to fight at least three times as champion this year.
“Alex has an entire country behind him and has only gotten better since winning the belt,” he said.
“Often, things can go the other way.
“Fighters win a world title and kick back — silk sheets getting the better of them as the saying goes.
“But Alex has gone to another level.
“Personally, I think Volk is still No. 1 in that pound for pound debate.
“He’s definitely the most active champion.
“And a fighter who went up in weight, took on Makhachev and, we still believe, won that fight.
“And I know there’s a lot of other people out there in the media still putting Volk at the top of their rankings lists, too.
“So we’ll see what happens.
“It’s just awesome to see his continuing growth both inside and out of the Octagon.
“He’s the perfect pin up for the UFC’s cut through here in Australia.
“He’s a family man, well spoken, works hard … just a great guy, and an Aussie through and through.
“You’ll never catch him in a position where he is in trouble or up to no good.
“And globally, mate, Alex is already a huge star.”