UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski has not shut the door on a return to lightweight.
Volkanovski wasn’t planning on suffering a knockout loss against Islam Makhachev in their 155-pound title rematch at UFC 294 back in October 2023. In the first round of their second encounter, Volkanovski got caught with a head kick, and he was stopped after some follow-up punches. It was the first time “The Great” had been stopped under the UFC banner, and only the second time he was finished in his pro MMA career.
Despite the brutal loss, Alex Volkanovski isn’t done with the lightweight division.
Alex Volkanovski On How He Gets Another UFC Lightweight Title Shot
Volkanovski is scheduled to put his 145-pound gold at stake against Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 on February 17. During a chat with media members and fans in Sydney, Volkanovski explained how he can be right back in the 155-pound conversation after the pay-per-view headliner.
“So, obviously straight afterwards I’m a realist, I’m not expecting a rematch straight away,” Volkanovski said. “Everyone’s gonna see that, they’re gonna be like, ‘The age thing,’ and all that. There’s gonna be some people doubting, ‘Oh, is his time done?’ Which is hyping up this fight. So, I’m all good with it but everyone’s gonna be reminded, and then everyone’s gonna be switching full 180 saying there’s nothing left for me in 145 and they want me to go take that lightweight belt. So, that’s what I’m gonna plan on doing. I’m gonna go out there, take care of Ilia, and we’re gonna see what’s next. But, lightweight’s definitely in the near future.”
As far as where he’s at mentally after being knocked out by Makhachev, “The Great” insists that he’s in a normal headspace going into his next fight.
“I feel exactly how I did coming off wins,” Volkanovski said.
Here’s the full media scrum hyping up UFC 298:
