Dana White has branded Alexander Volkanovski an Australian fighting “gangster” who has to be rated alongside the likes of Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech if he becomes a UFC ‘champ champ’ this Sunday.
Speaking on the eve of Volkanovski’s UFC 294 blockbuster, the UFC president also said that while “hates” the idea of his fighters defending two titles simultaneously, Volkanovski may just be “savage” enough to pull it off.
UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski SUN 22nd OCT 5AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
Already considered the greatest Aussie MMA fighter of all time, Volkanovski is now looking to ink his name among the nation’s greatest fighters, period – think Fenech, Tszyu, Lionel Rose and Johnny Famechon – if he beats UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev here in Abu Dhabi.
Apart from moving up a weight class, or taking the fight on 11 days notice, Volkanovski is also facing the Dagestani bogeyman who beat him as recently as February.
Yet should Volk win, the 35-year-old wants to defend both straps simultaneously.
To which White says what?
“I hate it,” he said of the idea, generally.
“And there’s only certain people I’d do it with.
“But Volk, he’s one of them.
“He and Israel Adesanya come out of the same camp, and it’s just straight gangsters.
“These guys believe they’re the best, they want to stay active, take fights on short notice … I’d do anything with those types of guys, that mindset.”
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Asked what he most liked about Volkanovski to make the incredible exception, White continued: “Let me start on why I hate it.
“First of all, we’ve gotta get guys fighting three times a year to defend a title right?
“Then you’re talking about two titles.
“If you’re lucky, and you have a savage, maybe you can get two out of each belt, each year.
“Then the other problem with fighters at that level, the amount of money they’re making, they don’t have to turn around and keep fighting.
“So you really have to have a special individual that you believe in who can do it.
“But if there is a guy you come across in this sport that you think is good enough to do it, you absolutely, positively do it.
“It’s special.
“It’s different and not everybody can pull that off.
“And Volkanovski is that guy.”
Why?
“I can give you a hundred reasons why he’s that guy,” White continued.
“But I don’t have to.
“You already know.
‘Not here for dancing, I’m here to kill’ | 00:52
“Just look at him, at his mentality and what he’s willing to do.
“He’s willing to step up on short notice and take fights like this.
“I also disagree with Islam saying that Volk has nothing to lose. And this fight is all about money for Volkanovski.
“That’s not true.
“They (Team Volkanovski) didn’t come back and say ‘give us a bunch of money’.”
Plus a fighter can compete for both legacy and cash at the same time, right?
“If you’re fighting for legacy,” the UFC boss replied, “money happens”.
A huge boxing fan, White also said Volkanovski would have to be ranked among names like Tszyu and Fenech if he goes and holds two UFC titles simultaneously.
“One hundred per cent,” he said.
“Easily.
“Because holding two titles, it’s almost impossible to do.
“It’s almost impossible to hold one title here.
All Volk cares about is ‘just money’ | 01:37
“And I think Australia is at a place where they’re so educated about this sport, they see what a big deal it is if he can do this.”
Should Volkanovski upset Makhachev at UFC 294 this Sunday, one of the biggest names on his lightweight title list would be Irish megastar Conor McGregor.
Over the past year, the ‘Notorious’ has been increasingly negative of the UFC featherweight champ on social media, which Volkanovski puts down to “jealousy”.
The Windang warrior also expects a McGregor super fight to happen in 2024.
But as for what White thinks?
“Umm, I don’t know,” he conceded.
“It’s going to depend on when Conor comes back, where he’s at when he comes back, and all that good stuff.
“People keep asking me about Conor, but it’s been two years and there’s lots of other stuff going on, so we’ll see when Conor comes back.”