Alexander Volkanovski isn’t planning on retiring soon.
Next year, Volkanovski will make the first defense of his newly reclaimed featherweight title when he takes on Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 325 in Sydney. Despite his long stint as champion during his first title reign, this will be Volkanovski’s first title fight in his home city of Sydney, and only his second UFC fight in Sydney. As such, fans have already begun to speculate that this could be the final fight of Volkanovski’s legendary career, but the champ says that’s not the case.
“I’m seeing that everywhere as well,” Volkanovski told 10 News Australia. “I don’t know where that comes from. No, it hasn’t been planned to be my last fight, so you don’t really need to worry about that. I think you’re going to just take it as it goes from here on, but there’s definitely no plans of that.
“My plan is going out there, and as I told you, not taking too much damage, going out there and really setting a statement, be really impressive in there, and maybe get a quick turnaround. And then we’ll see what happens from there. I think you’ve got a couple of other guys as well, like Movsar [Evloev], Lerone Murphy, undefeated and all that. So, for the legacy, they look like they might be pretty good as well.
“So, we’ll see what happens. This one, do this, in Sydney, put on a show. We’ll see what happens, but definitely no plans for that.”
Aside from questions about his possible retirement, there was also considerable backlash to Lopes getting the next title shot, given Volkanovski’s win over him in April. Volkanovski himself admits he wasn’t expecting Lopes to be the UFC’s choice, but also acknowledges that Lopes has done the sorts of things that gain favor with the UFC matchmakers.
“It is all about entertainment, and you’ve got to take those opportunities,” Volkanovski said. “One thing about Lopes, he’s the type of guy who will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. He will bring the entertainment every time he steps in there. He doesn’t say no to anyone, and he’s very active. And sometimes when you’re going out there and taking every opportunity that you can, you will be rewarded. … Yes, rankings are big, but so is being active, and you will be rewarded if you are that guy.
“Diego Lopes is that guy. So that’s the name that got brought to me, so I’ll do what I plan on doing, as I said. And the way I do it, I think, will maybe send a message to your Lerone Murphys and your Movsars, like, be careful what you wish for. That’s the type of statement I feel like I’m going to bring Feb. 1, so let’s see how badly they want it after that performance.”
And after UFC 325, Volkanovski seems willing to oblige them, if the UFC wishes. Because not only is he not retiring, but he’s got a pretty ambitious 2026 planned for himself.
“I’d love to rematch and get them wins back on Islam Makhachev or Ilia Topuria,” Volkanovski said. “But I’m pretty [OK] with it. I understand that I can’t just call for a champ-champ fight right now. I know I’ve got work to do in my division. Being a champion is a responsibility, and I take that serious. I know I’ve got guys in my division, and I don’t want to hold up the division. So, I want to do what I need to do, and you never know, maybe after I what I said I’m planning on doing in Sydney, Feb. 1, go do that, have a turnaround, get another victory over an undefeated guy, maybe that’s fair, I think that’s fair enough to be calling for a champ-champ fight then.”
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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
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