Alexander Volkanovski has beaten some of the biggest names in the featherweight division, but there is still one man on his hit list that he has never shared the Octagon with.
With wins over Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo, ‘The Great’ earned his first world title opportunity at UFC 245. On that night, Volkanovski scored a unanimous decision victory over Max Holloway to claim the featherweight crown. Five title defenses later, Volkanovski has looked virtually unbeatable in the featherweight division defeating the likes of Brian Ortega, The Korean Zombie, Yair Rodrigues, and Max Holloway two more times.
But there’s one featherweight great that Volkanovski still hopes to share the Octagon with one day.
“It’s pretty easy for me in saying Conor McGregor because he was in featherweight,” Volkanovski said on The MMA Fan Podcast. “He was a featherweight. We’ve got to remember the champions I’ve beat. I’ve beat every other champion in the featherweight division.
“The only champ I haven’t fought in the featherweight division is Conor McGregor. Conor McGregor in his prime in featherweight division would obviously be the all-time – I’m sure everyone would want to see that right now. If we could make that happen right now, somehow get prime Conor vs. prime Volk, it would be pretty special.”
👀 Conor McGregor vs Alex Volkanovski at #UFC300? pic.twitter.com/3Q7GcalIv4
— The Fight Bubble (@thefightbubble) September 11, 2023
Over the weekend, Conor McGregor took exception to Alexander Volkanovski’s spot at the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, claiming that ‘The Great’ would be “quick work” for him in a potential clash. Getting word of McGregor’s comments, Volkanoski hit back at the Irishman, suggesting they could mix it up at UFC 300 next year.
That fight would be a massive moment for Volkanovski who would undoubtedly walk away with a seven-figure payday win or lose, but for the featherweight champ, it’s not all about the money.
“Everyone’s going to talk about the money, and that’s why you only want that fight,” Volkanovski said. “Yeah, of course, there’s money in it, the circus around it, the hype, all of that. But you talk about legacy, you know then I would have beaten every featherweight champion, and I plan on having the most defenses as well.”
Do you want to see Conor McGregor fight Alexander Volkanovski in a battle of featherweight greats, or should the former two-division titleholder stick to lightweight at this point in his career?
Transcription by MMA Mania
