Alexander Volkanovski has called for an immediate rematch after being brutally dethroned as UFC featherweight champion, saying: “I’ve been a company man … it has to happen”.
On a night where he walked to the ring accompanied by American billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, Volkanovski was sensationally stopped in the second round by brash Spaniard Ilia Topuria.
The brutal right hand stoppage represented the second straight KO loss for the Australian star – who was also knocked cold by that now infamous Islam Makhachev headkick last October.
UFC 299: O’MALLEY VS VERA 2 | SUN 10 MAR | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the new exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events!
Topuria CRUSHES Volk with brutal KO | 01:18
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia before the fight, Topuria suggested he was going to finish Australia’s champion so badly that nobody would want to see a do over.
Then, well, he want and did exactly as predicted.
However when quizzed afterwards about a rematch, Topuria suggested that if UFC president Dana White wants the fight to happen, he will agree.
“He’s such a good person,” Topuria said of Volkanovski. “So you think ‘OK, I will give you the rematch.
“But at the same time I think it’s also time to move on and clear up the division.
“But my job is to fight. So whoever they say to fight, I will. That’s it.”
Volkanovski v Topuria: Fight Highlights | 03:41
While White would not speak on the rematch idea so quickly after the fight, he did call Volkanovski the greatest UFC featherweight of all time and suggested Topuria’s first defence would likely be in Spain.
Fronting journalists after his loss, Volkanovski insisted a rematch has to happen – stressing the fight schedule he kept up during his own featherweight run meant he was deserving of an immediate rematch.
After initially winning the title from Max Holloway in 2019, Volk has since defended five times — including twice more against Holloway — and also fought UFC lightweight champ Makhachev a second time on 12 days notice.
MORE UFC 298 NEWS
FULL WRAP: Title boilover as ‘shocking’ KO upset leaves Volk ‘out cold’
‘TAKE TIME OFF’: Ex-UFC champ’s warning, mate’s message to Volk
‘I’M BACK’: Whittaker’s defiant message to rest of UFC as ‘instant classic’ stuns
Volkanovski wants his rematch in Spain | 00:53
“Obviously I’ve been champion for a long time,” the 35-year-old said.
“And I want that rematch.
“It’s something that needs to happen.
“I’ve been a company man, backed up on short notice, faced Max three times … you name it I’ve done it.
“So I think I deserve that rematch.
“And it’s going to be different next time.”
Volkanovski stressed that his only thoughts now were the rematch.
“Obviously before (as champion) I was ‘oh, I want to be active’,” he continued.
“I don’t care about any of that.
“I want the rematch.”
Asked if it would be soon, he continued: “He just won the belt.
“And I don’t expect everyone to be as active as me.”
Elsewhere, the former champ also shot down suggestions he had turned around too quickly after the Makhachev KO.
MORE UFC 298 NEWS
WHAT’S NEXT? How Volk stunner could trigger MMA ‘explosion’… and Conor-like ‘ascent’
‘I’M BACK’: Whittaker’s defiant message to rest of UFC as ‘instant classic’ stuns
‘Take time off’: Rogan’s warning to Volk | 01:02
“You can’t take anything away from Topuria,” he said.
“He puts a hand on you like that you’re going to go down.
“That was a clean right hand.
“I don’t care who you are you let one of those land on your chin you’re going down.
“Don’t let him catch you.
“He caught me, that’s it.
“I was feeling good in there.
“Felt like I was seeing everything.
“I was comfortable with the first round, was comfortable we were up and wanted to start doing more … and he caught me.
“We knew he would be fast, knew he would be powerful obviously,.
“We knew not to be up on the cage there.
“Don’t let him catch you there.
“But he did a great job
“Not much I can say but congrats to him.”
Volkanovski also spoke about having Zuckerberg accompany him to the ring, and decked out in a team tracksuit, saying: “He was coming to watch.
“I’m mates with him and we talk regularly.
“I said ‘we’d love to have you walk out’. He said he would love to if he;s not going to get in the way.
“Something a bit different.”
Topuria talks KO: ‘That was a cold one!’ | 02:13
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, White refused to confirm what would be next for Volkanovski saying only: “I don’t know yet … I’m not even thinking about that.”
If Volkanovski is given a chance at revenge however, he will most likely be headed to Topuria’s backyard, with White saying he wants the new champion’s first defence to be in Spain.
Elsewhere, the UFC president also heaped praise on the dethroned champion – calling him their greatest featherweight ever – and refused to be drawn on whether he should take a break after now being kayoed in consecutive fights.
“Volk is one of the greatest of all time and definitely the greatest in that weight class, ever,” White said.
And as for whether ‘The Great’ should take a break?
Ilia addresses Volk rematch questions | 02:10
“I don’t know what he wants to do,” White said. “But that’s up to doctors, not me.
“I don’t determine if he is healthy to fight, doctors do.”
White also revealed Volkanovski had approached Zuckerberg about walking with him to the Octagon on what was hoped to be a sixth title defence.
“Volk asked (Zuckerberg) to walk with him,” White said.
“People ask me about that type of stuff and even a guy like Mark Zuckerberg … to stand where I stand for a face off, it’s one of the most unique and incredible things do in your lifetime if you’re a huge fan.
“The other thing is to walk out with a world champion as he’s going out to defend his title.
“No matter how much money you have in life, it’s one of those very unique, amazing things if you get the opportunity.”
Told Topuria wants to defend for the first time in Spain, White replied: “I want to go to Spain, too.
“We’re going to Spain.”
For his first defence?
“If there’s a venue available we’ll be there,” he said.