“We’re Holding Crowds Over Here” Alexander Volkanovski Wants Brian Ortega Fight on Home Soil

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski wants to fight Brian Ortega in Australia or New Zealand in front of fans.

Ortega put on an impressive win against The Korean Zombie last weekend to become the #1 contender. Brian Ortega is the next challenger, and the champion Volkanovski is eager to get the fight booked.

Volkanovski is coming off back-to-back wins over Max Holloway. Having first won and then defended the UFC featherweight title, the Australian is eager to face fresh competition.

Volkanovski now looks to an exciting potential matchup against Brian Ortega and is looking to defend his title on home soil.

Speaking to Ariel Helwani of ESPN MMA, he gave his thoughts on the Ortega-Zombie fight. “I’m not taking nothing away from Ortega, Ortega definitely used distance and made it hard for him (Zombie) I know that,” he went on to continue, “but when I felt that when Korean Zombie was in a safe range to throw, he just wouldn’t pull the trigger.”

Volkanovski expressed his preference to have fans at his next fight, “Look man, Australia, New Zealand, we’re holding crowds over here.”

The Champ said, “We had the wallabies and the all blacks fighting New Zealand with like 30,000 people. We’re gonna have 40,000 this weekend.”

“Bring it over here, we could do it,” the champ expressed, hoping the UFC could schedule the fight in Australia. “Let’s make a game plan and obviously we’ve got the fighters over here to make it a cracker card.”

Alexander Volkanovski targeting UFC event in Australia/New Zealand

Volkanovski trains at City Kickboxing in New Zealand alongside UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, and lightweight contender, Dan Hooker.

The featherweight champion detailed how there could be a card full of fighters from Australia and New Zealand. Volkanovski also spoke about the main issues the UFC could face, such as the mandatory quarantine period.

“That is the problem. The 14-day quarantine,” Volkanovski said. “But I think if you have a game plan with the doctors and health ministers, it will be okay.”

Volkanovski insists that the same Fight Island procedures could be implemented for the event to take place safely. He believes that although Australia has strict protocols, the UFC could host an event again ‘Down Under’ and more importantly have fans in the arena.

Also Read: “Finally We Have Some Direction”- Alexander Volkanovski Welcomes Brian Ortega Challenge After UFC Fight Night on UFC Fight Island