Mixed martial arts fans were recently treated to a Twitter storm when Joe Rogan claimed that Ilia Topuria, the newly crowned UFC featherweight champion, had turned down a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski. However, Topuria swiftly responded, denying Rogan’s assertion and shedding light on the situation.
In a tweet by Parry Punch News, Volkanovski directly addressed comments made by Joe Rogan during a recent UFC event, stating that he was never officially offered a fight against Topuria at UFC 305 in Perth: “Obviously I’ve made it pretty clear that I wanted to wait a bit. Towards the end of the year. I know that is the end of the year, but I was looking maybe a little bit later.”
🔥🚨NEW: Alex Volkanovski reacts to Joe Rogan saying Ilia Topuria turned down a rematch against him at #UFC305 in Perth, and says he was never offered the fight. 👀
“Obviously I’ve made it pretty clear that I wanted to wait a bit. Towards the end of the year. I know that is the… pic.twitter.com/Zv0gIkPnSc
— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) May 1, 2024
Volkanovski clarifies his previous statements about wanting to fight later in the year, emphasizing his desire for a break after a busy period. He then addresses Rogan’s claim.
Volkanovski speculates that Rogan’s information might have stemmed from an interview where Ilia Topuria expressed his preference not to fight in “enemy territory,” potentially Australia where Volkanovski holds significant fan support. However, Volkanovski maintains his stance:
“”So, whether that’s what Joe Rogan was going off, or he’s got inside information. But nothing was ever brought to me as in we want a fight.””
He reiterates that no official offer for a rematch at UFC 305 ever materialized, despite his previously expressed openness to fighting Ilia Topuria later in the year.
This turn of events adds another layer to the ongoing saga surrounding the Featherweight division. While Volkanovski seeks a well-deserved break, Ilia Topuria has been vocal about his desire to challenge for the title.
Ilia Topuria’s Rise in the Division
Ilia Topuria burst onto the UFC scene with an impressive undefeated record (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC). His second-round knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February earned him the coveted featherweight title. Given Volkanovski’s previous dominance as champion, many expected an immediate rematch.
Ilia Topuria took to social media to address Rogan’s claim. He categorically denied ever being offered a rematch with Volkanovski: “I never turned down the rematch with Alex as the UFC has never offered me this fight.” His straightforward response contradicted Rogan’s assertion.
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