It is expected that reigning UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway will soon move up to the lightweight division. Many believe he has cleared out the division by beating Jose Aldo, twice, and Brian Ortega during his reign as the champion.
Surging featherweight contender Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t share that opinion.
“Everyone is talking about him going to lightweight, I’m like, ‘Wait a second, fight me before you go,’” Volkanovski said at a UFC 234 media scrum this week (transcript via MMA News). “They’re trying to say there’s nothing left in this division, I just think that’s rubbish. My next fight, I guarantee everyone, the whole world is going to be saying give me that title shot. I guarantee it.”
Although Volkanovski wants Holloway, he wouldn’t be opposed to fighting another top contender to truly show he deserves the title shot.
“I want to fight someone for the number one contender. Whoever is looking to take that title fight, me first and let’s see who deserves this shot,” Volkanovski said. “Or give me the shot right away let’s not mess about. … However it works, just give me a fight and give me someone right up there.”
If Alex Volkanovski does fight a number one contender, one name that has been brought up is Jose Aldo. The former champion had a dominant win over Renato Moicano last Saturday.
Following the fight Aldo was asked about a potential fight with Volkanovski. In response, he said he was ‘sorry’ and acted as if he wasn’t sure who Volkanovski is.
Volkanovski isn’t sure what to make of that comment.
“He said, ‘Sorry,’” Volkanovski stated. “I don’t know if that’s a, ‘Sorry, I don’t know him.’ Or a, ‘Sorry, that ain’t happening.’ I don’t really care. I don’t think he’s looking at a title run. So if that fight makes sense for me, I don’t even know.
“I know who he is, I ain’t going to lie,” he continued. “I know exactly who he is and he’s great. I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s done, but at the same time my path is to that title, and if he’s in front of me I’m going to do what I’m going to do against all of them.”
Who do you want to see Alex Volkanovski fight next?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/7/2019.