Alexander Volkanovski is on a mission to restore his position at the top, and he’s not letting the UFC forget it. The former featherweight champion has teased a soon-to-be fight announcement, fueling rumors that he may face Ilia Topuria again. ‘The Great’ revealed in a recent video on his YouTube channel that he is already in training camp. Why? Because he now knows who his next opponent is.
“Hopefully, fight announcement soon. We’re in camp; we’ve been in camp for a while,” he said, sending a clear message to his fans and the rest of the division that despite his recent losses, he is ready for a comeback. The Australian star’s statement indicates that conversations are ongoing, and he expects the UFC to confirm his next fight. His comment also increases the pressure on Dana White and the promotion to clarify whether Topuria would defend his featherweight belt next or go up to lightweight to face Islam Makhachev.
While ‘El Matador’ has shown an interest in testing himself in the 155-pound class, Alexander Volkanovski is adamant that a rematch is the fight he needs. Despite suffering a nasty knockout, he remains confident in his ability to dethrone the young champion. “Of course, he’s going to think that,” he said, acknowledging Topuria’s confidence in an earlier interview. “He’s coming off two KO victories, and he’s going to feel unstoppable. He’s undefeated. So he’s going to feel like that until I show him.”
Alexander Volkanovski teases some upcoming fight news
“Hopefully fight announcement soon. We’re in camp, we’ve been in camp for a while.”
(via. @alexvolkanovski) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/KmafteYacu
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 16, 2025
The rematch ideas gathered traction when UFC middleweight Bo Nickal claimed that Topuria would defend his belt at UFC 314 in Miami, despite the fact that nothing official was declared. Alexander Volkanovski‘s desire for an immediate title shot comes as no surprise. His record speaks for itself, with three wins over Max Holloway, dominant wins over Brian Ortega and Jose Aldo, and two hard-fought fights against Makhachev. However, he has been on a downward slope for a while, losing 3 out of his last 4 matches. But despite this, ‘El Matador’ believes that despite defeating him the last time, Volkanovski remains a major threat.
Ilia Topuria’s show of respect to Alexander Volkanovski
Many would say Ilia Topuria is already at the top of the UFC, but he’s only getting started. After defeating Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, he sits comfortably atop the featherweight division, with no immediate challengers in sight. He prevented Holloway from becoming the best featherweight of all time and knocked Alexander Volkanovski out cold. Now, he’s hinting at a potential move up to lightweight to face Islam Makhachev for the title. After securing their titles, UFC champions increasingly choose to test themselves in a higher weight class. So, will Topuria follow suit and challenge Makhachev?
Probably not right now, as a rematch with Volkanovski may be in the works. While some might expect a rerun of their previous fight, ‘El Matador’ and Volkanovski view it differently. Despite his confidence, the featherweight champion understands the caliber of the fighters he has faced. On the Full Send Podcast, he recognized Volkanovski’s legacy, saying, “I have to give him (Volkanovski) his credit because you never know what is going to happen.” He further added, “The rematch, I’m sure that I’m gonna knock him out once again if we fight, or I will submit him… But at the same time, you can’t joke with that guy. He’s a f——— legend. The only thing he knows to do is fighting so I can’t underestimate him at all because he’s a f——— beast.”
Even though Topuria easily defeated Volkanovski in their previous encounter, he still sees ‘The Great’ as a potential danger. A fighter of his quality only needs one mistake to change the fight’s outcome. Let’s not forget that Volkanovski’s only UFC losses have been against Topuria and Makhachev. A rematch may still be exciting, despite the former champion’s slim odds. While no official announcement has been made, rumors claim the UFC is considering setting up the rematch. However, some, including Joe Rogan, believe Topuria should avoid Volkanovski and instead target Islam Makhachev. What do you think? Who will get to fight Ilia Topuria next? Let us know in the comments.
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