The UFC’s featherweight champion knows what he wants next.
The last time Alexander Volkanovski fought in his home country of Australia was UFC 221 in 2018. He was on the prelims, and he finished Jeremy Kennedy in the second round. (Israel Adesanya debuted that night as well.)
Australia homecoming
Eight fights later, Volkanoski wants to fight in Australia again. The champion even thinks it is possible that he will fight for the lightweight title when he does return to action.
“They’re looking at coming to Australia in the early quarter, the first quarter of the year [2023],” Volkanovski said on The MMA Hour. “I need to fight in Australia. I think I deserve that. Trying to squeeze something before that, that’s me rushing things. Obviously, everyone in Australia deserves [it]. It’s what I want, and the UFC would be very happy to have me headline a card there, as well. That’s probably what’s going to happen. And fight for the lightweight title in that (first) quarter of the year.”
Volkanoski is currently recovering from a broken hand he suffered in his latest win against Max Holloway at UFC 276. While he is recovering, he admitted that he doesn’t mind if an interim title is made.
There are two clear contenders that are ready for a title shot with Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett, and Volkanoski thinks they should fight.
Interim title?
“Look, I don’t mind that idea [of a interim title fight] while I’m sitting here. Because again, I think it’s looking like me [fighting] for that lightweight belt, and again there’s no clear guy for that No. 1 contender. Let them fight for that No. 1 contender,” Volkanovski said. “I think both Josh Emmett and Yair Rodriguez are both in a position where they could get a shot. They can go do that, I do my thing, and a few months after that get me back in there. I’ll do it. In the perfect world for me, lightweight title early next year and then if they do this interim thing, it would just make it a bigger fight. I don’t mind. Then you got a clear No. 1 guy.”
.@alexvolkanovski signs off on the idea of Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett fighting for an interim featherweight title 🏆 #TheMMAHour
“To be honest, I don’t mind the idea while I’m sitting here [injured]."
▶️ https://t.co/kCKMeBctT0 pic.twitter.com/uLz4hhg6Am
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) July 18, 2022
