Following a 14-month break after his previous defeat, Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion for the second time, is eager to return to the octagon much sooner.
Fresh off his victory against Diego Lopes at UFC 314, “The Great” is looking to take advantage of the competitive featherweight division, which is full of worthy contenders.
Potential opponents include Yair Rodriguez, who could be a likely rematch after his recent win; the undefeated Movsar Evloev with a 9-0 UFC record; and the rising star Jean Silva, who impressed at UFC 314 with a victory over Bryce Mitchell.
Volkanovski seems ready to face any of them and even hinted at the possibility of fighting twice within the next eight months.
“Regarding fighting, I definitely want to get back in there soon,” Volkanovski stated to TMZ Sports. “I’ve mentioned wanting to stay active, and that’s still my goal. I need to get a few things checked out, some minor injuries, and then discuss plans with the UFC to make it happen.”
“I will definitely fight again this year, the question is whether I can fit in two more fights,” he added.
Yair Rodriguez, coming from Mexico, is hoping to arrange a fight with Volkanovski at UFC 320 in Guadalajara on September 13. They previously fought at UFC 290 where Volkanovski unified the title by defeating Rodriguez, who held an interim belt at the time.
Rodriguez might be a more appealing matchup currently compared to Evloev. Despite wins against notable fighters, Evloev`s grappling-focused style hasn`t particularly excited UFC President Dana White and the matchmakers.
Volkanovski, 36, feels that there isn`t a clear number one contender at the moment. He plans to take some time to recover from minor injuries before deciding on his next steps.
“That’s the situation,” Volkanovski explained. “I was hoping for a clearer picture, especially since I want to be active, but it’s not quite clear yet. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“I think Movsar is the name I’ve mentioned most. However, I need to see if the UFC is interested in that fight, and if the fans are. I’m sure Movsar wants it, but we need to determine what makes the most sense. Ultimately, I plan to be active enough to potentially face both contenders this year if they want it.”
Alexander Volkanovski is open to a busy schedule and is prepared to face the top contenders in the featherweight division in the near future.
