Alexander Volkanovski hasn’t given up on dreams of glory in a higher-weight class! The Australian UFC featherweight champion has attempted twice to move up and claim the rare distinction of ‘champ-champ’. However, he came up short against the dominant 155 lbs. champion, Islam Makhachev, at both UFC 284 and UFC 294, last year. While he lost the first matchup in a hotly contested decision, the second fight saw Volkanovski get knocked out by a devastating head kick in the very first round. But that hasn’t put a dent in his dreams of pursuing more fights in the division.

In a recent conversation, Volkanovski broke down what intrigues him about the 155 lbs division. The Australian also provided his honest insights on what he wants from his remarkable career.

Alexander Volkanovski wants more lightweight super fights that “excite” him 

He confessed that while he still feels like a 30-year-old despite being 35, he cannot expect the situation to remain the same as the years go by. As such, he stated, “I want to capitalize, I want to get in there, I know I’m good now, let’s get them rolling you know”

According to the Australian, transitioning to the lightweight division offers him the opportunity to face fresh opponents and encounter new challenges because “… I want to be excited, I want to, I want to have fun in there. I want to you know, I want to have new problems to solve and things like that.”

With his resilient mindset, Volkanovski is ready to embrace the challenges that lie ahead in the lightweight division. His mentality clearly demonstrates his enduring ambition to achieve greatness in the sport of mixed martial arts.

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But the champion is not overlooking the task at hand. During the interview, he revealed his plans for his clash at UFC 298 against a young and hungry contender.

Volkanovski has a “lesson” planned for Ilia Topuria  

Ilia Topuria, a rising star in the featherweight division, has been outspoken about defeating Volkanovski in their matchup and has already proclaimed himself a ‘world champion’ on social media! As such, during the conversation with David Adesanya, Volkanovski addressed Topuria’s recent antics. He stated, “I want this to be a humbling experience, not only for him, for a lot of people…” ‘The Great’ also emphasized that the fight will be a learning experience for Topuria, teaching him that his time hasn’t come yet.

Volkanovski’s approach reflects his determination to remain a champion and etch an insurmountable legacy across combat sports. His commitment to taking on all challenges is just a step to carve out greatness and complete his story.

Do you think Ilia Topuria has what it takes to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski? And what do you make of the champion’s intentions about pursuing more fights at lightweight? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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