Alexander Volkanovski Opts for Patience: Prefers to Await Topuria vs. Holloway Outcome Over Immediate Fight

In a recent interview, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski shared his thoughts on his future in the division and why he prefers to wait for the winner of the upcoming fight between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway. Volkanovski, who has been a dominant force in the featherweight division, is determined to reclaim his title but is cautious about his next steps.

Alexander Volkanovski’s decision to wait is rooted in strategy. He acknowledges that taking another fight, especially in a different weight class, could jeopardize his chances of getting a title shot. “I could have maybe done a lightweight fight, I think there’s a lot of exciting fights there, but the UFC aren’t big fans of floating. Look, you want to go to lightweight, you’re going to have to probably stay there, that’s the only thing, and then I might lose that featherweight title shot. So I might just have to wait. It’s only a couple of months, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Volkanovski explained.

🚨 Alexander Volkanovski says he’s probably going to sit out and wait for a featherweight title shot.
He says he could have done a fight at lightweight but the UFC “aren’t big fans” of moving up and down weight divisions.
“It’s only a couple of months, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”… pic.twitter.com/slF2BmtnJw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 29, 2024

Alexander Volkanovski’s Road to Redemption

Alexander Volkanovski’s recent record has been challenging. He is 1-3 in his last four fights, including two unsuccessful attempts at the lightweight title against Islam Makhachev. His most recent bout at UFC 298 saw him lose his featherweight title to Ilia Topuria via a second-round knockout. Despite these setbacks, Volkanovski remains focused on regaining his belt.

The UFC has scheduled Topuria’s first title defense against Max Holloway at UFC 308. Volkanovski believes that waiting for the outcome of this fight is the best course of action. “So I can wait or if I don’t want to wait, I can do something else. Or just wait, and the UFC has made that clear. Obviously, that’s probably what I’m going to do,” he stated.

Interestingly, Volkanovski hinted at the possibility of serving as a backup fighter for the Topuria vs. Holloway fight. However, this idea was met with resistance from Topuria, who suggested that Volkanovski should take a break from fighting.

As Alexander Volkanovski waits for his next opportunity, he remains optimistic about his chances. He has expressed confidence in his ability to reclaim the featherweight title, regardless of who wins between Topuria and Holloway. “Who would I rather fight? Obviously, Ilia’s got that one over me. I want that back. But at the end of the day, I want that belt back as well,” Volkanovski said.