Fresh off reclaiming the featherweight title, Alexander Volkanovski is keen to defend his championship reign.
Volkanovski, known as `The Great,` regained the featherweight belt in April at UFC 314, delivering a dominant performance against Diego Lopes. The title had become vacant after Ilia Topuria moved up to the lightweight division, and Volkanovski secured it.
Although he`s 36 and potentially nearing the end of his fighting career, Volkanovski remains motivated to participate in significant bouts to solidify his legacy. In an interview with UFC Australia/New Zealand, he discussed his future championship plans, including a potential matchup against the top contender, Movsar Evloev.
Volkanovski stated regarding his next move, “Things aren`t entirely certain yet; there are many factors at play. Before my last fight, I anticipated facing Movsar, but it seems he might be scheduled for another bout.”
Reports suggest Evloev could be fighting former Bellator standout Aaron Pico, though this matchup hasn`t been officially confirmed.
Yair Rodriguez is another prominent name discussed as a potential opponent for Volkanovski. Speculation grew that Rodriguez might get a rematch when UFC 320 was initially announced for Guadalajara, Mexico, on September 13th as part of the Noche UFC series, seemingly setting the stage for the Mexican fighter to headline against Volkanovski. However, the September 13th event has since been relocated to San Antonio and is no longer a pay-per-view, making that date and location less probable for Volkanovski`s next title defense.
UFC 320 is now set for October 4th in Las Vegas, which presents a possible date for the champion`s next fight. A September fight was already unlikely for Volkanovski, as he and his wife are expecting a baby during that month.
Volkanovski acknowledged hearing Rodriguez`s name frequently but noted, “The September date isn`t ideal… obviously, my wife is due then, so rescheduling would be preferable. We`ll just have to see how things develop. As I said, there are many variables. We plan to discuss this with Dana White and Hunter Campbell soon to figure out the next steps.”
Volkanovski and Rodriguez previously met in a featherweight title unification bout at UFC 290 in July 2023. At the time, Rodriguez held the interim championship, but Volkanovski successfully defended his undisputed status, defeating Rodriguez by TKO in the third round.
