UFC Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is ready to step into the Octagon with Ilia Topuria.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Ilia Topuria: Featherweight champ calls for future title defense
Following an unsuccessful title shot attempt at Islam Makhachev’s lightweight throne at UFC 284 back in February, “The Great” is back to the 145-pound division for his next title defense and will be back in action next month at UFC 290 against Yair Rodriguez.
In the meantime, Volkanovski received a challenge from Ilia Topuria, the 9th ranked 145-pounder who is fresh off a unanimous decision win over Josh Emmett in the main event of UFC Jacksonville.
“No f****** problem,” Topuria recently told Ariel Helwani regarding a title fight with Volkanovski. “If I think I’m the best in the world, I can beat him in Australia, in Las Vegas, in Miami, in Spain, wherever we go, I beat him. Location is no problem.”
For his part, Volkanovski hit Topuria back with a thumbs up on the DC and RC podcast, where the Aussie fighter called to have the fight take place in the future.
“I’m hearing a lot of people mentioning other guys, like Ilia is fighting other guys. Like no, don’t do it, just give me that guy,” said Volkanovski. “Obviously, I think he’s a great fighter… You know I think that’s a great fight, and that’ll work well on some people, it won’t work well on others. I want guys, I want to be active.”
“…Everyone’s raving on about this guy, I’ve got Yair to worry about. I’ll worry about that first ’cause again, I view him as a much bigger threat than Ilia. So I’ll make sure I go out there and handle my business, and then, if that’s on the cards again I want to be active… We’ll see what the UFC says. For me, if people think he’s the next guy, bring it on,” he added. [H/T BJPenn.com]
What do you think of a UFC Featherweight contest between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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