Alexander Volkanovski wants to defend his UFC featherweight title against Ilia Topuria in Las Vegas this December – then catapult into a hyped ‘champ champ’ blockbuster in either Sydney or at UFC 300.
As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia last week, Volkanovski is already back in the gym after elbow surgery and looking towards a Topuria title defence shortly before Christmas.
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Speaking at a press conference to announce the UFC’s new broadcast deal with Foxtel Group on Wednesday evening, the 32-year-old champ confirmed he wants the undefeated Spaniard before then undertaking a rematch with UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev.
The Great added that Topuria has no more than a “puncher’s chance” in their hyped showdown, while also suggesting he may ask UFC president Dana White to come good on that promise to let him pick whatever fights he wants moving forward.
After Volkanovski beat Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July, White said the champ was now “in one of those places where whatever he wants to do we go with it”.
Which for Volkanovski means fighting Topuira – who is undefeated in 14 professional fights, including six inside the UFC – before then taking the Makhachev rematch early in 2024.
“I want that rematch and I want it in the near future,” he said.
“And I think it makes sense.
“Obviously Dana has said I can do pretty much whatever. I don’t know how much the matchmakers like that because maybe they think I’ll hold up divisions?
“I won’t.
“And I’ve made that pretty clear.”
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Initially, Volkanovski had wanted Makhachev in October, however he was forced to undergo elbow surgery after the UFC 290 win – with Brazilian Charles Oliveira given the title shot instead.
Regardless, the Wollongong native insists he has done enough to then look to make himself a two-division champion early next year.
Earlier this week, UFC Australia boss Dave Shaw told Fox Sports Australia the Octagon will be coming Down Under twice a year from 2024 – and suggested the first Pay-Per-View event could be next February.
That date would represent a year since Volkanovski first fought Makhachev for lightweight gold at UFC 284 in Perth – losing via a contentious split decision.
Asked about turning around from December to February, Volkanovski said he would love to have four fights within the space of 12 months – however a UFC 300 showdown, which should arrive in the first third of next year, would also make sense.
Asked about Topuira, Volkanovski said: “He’s making the noise.
“Actually, everyone is making the noise because they want to see it.
“He likes to talk, is a fairly popular dude, undefeated, it makes sense.
“Before someone else takes him out, let me take him out.”
After Volkanovski beat Rodriguez at UFC 290, Topuria confronted the Aussie superstar as he was walking out of the main arena.
Told he gets a smile on his face every time the undefeated featherweight is mentioned, the 34-year-old continued: “Yeah, there is because while he had a good fight (last start) against Josh Emmett, I see fights a lot differently.
“Where people say ‘oh, wow, our fight is going to be incredible’, that puts a smirk on my face.
“Everyone has a puncher’s chance.
“And he is a tough, durable fella. Dangerous.
“But I don’t think he’s dangerous to me.
“I see that fight playing into my style and I’m really looking forward to that one because a lot of people are hyped up for that fight and I know what I’ll do to him.
“And he likes to talk … it makes punching people in the face a lot better when they talk.”
Asked about a date, he added: “I’d love to say yeah a few weeks here in Sydney but that’s not likely.
“December, I should be good by then.
“Obviously I wanted to see if October would work (for Makhachev) but I might’ve been rushing things a bit.”