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Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

  • Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

    Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch

    Since losing his UFC featherweight title in February 2024, Alexander Volkanovski has been out of action and fans are happy to see him getting the well-deserved time off. However, the former champ is now back to training and is already talking about potential matchups.

    Volkanovski was the featherweight kingpin for five years, defending the belt as frequently as possible. He also fought the UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev twice and for all these memorable moments, no one’s complaining about his expectation to get an immediate title rematch.

    Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is still a month away, though. In the meantime, Volkanovski would be happy to take a big money fight with Conor McGregor and then try to reclaim the UFC featherweight title…

    Alexander Volkanovski Thinks It’s Feasible To Fight Conor McGregor Before Rematching Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway For The Title

    From Topuria and Holloway to Diego Lopes and McGregor, Volkanovski discussed several potential opponents for his return on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently.

    “The Great” is open to fighting McGregor before he gets the rematch with the winner of Topuria vs. Holloway. Both fighters have had dominant winning streaks in the featherweight division and have beaten big names like Holloway and José Aldo.

    With McGregor eager to book his UFC return as well, Volkanovski stated that he could fight “The Notorious” in late December or early 2025. He can focus on fighting the UFC featherweight champion later in 2025.

    “It’s like title fights, exciting fights, and maybe, short notice fights, that’s the things that excite me, you know what I mean? So, now, I’m, you know obviously doing good now, back in training. Training hard in that as well, but yeah just what excites me. It’s just doing a contender fight in featherweight division, that doesn’t really get me out of bed. It would have to be a build on the line to get me excited and obviously, the Conor Mcgregor fight is very exciting.”

    Volkanovski admitted to only wanting title fights, exciting fights, or short-notice fights for his return. Although he has no plans to be in a title eliminator against Lopes, the McGregor fight is definitely exciting for him and it wouldn’t impact his imminent rematch for the title as well.

    The former UFC P4P No. 1 fighter also explained why he would choose to fight McGregor over Ilia Topuria at the moment.

    “That’s a tricky one. I mean, obviously, I want that, I want that match back with Ilia, right, yeah? But I mean, right now, well, I don’t know exactly what’s happening in February. If Ilia wins, I don’t even know where he would want to fight. I don’t think, you know, I think they might be talking about maybe Sydney or something. I don’t think Ilia is going to want to fight there. So, who knows how long it is going to be. Is he gonna wait another six to seven months? So, I’ll say Conor McGregor right now, because then I could still do Ilia straight after that.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski Agrees To Fight Diego Lopes Over Winner Of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway On One Condition

    Alexander Volkanovski Agrees To Fight Diego Lopes Over Winner Of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway On One Condition

    Before anyone could say Jack Robinson, Diego Lopes has become the No. 3 ranked UFC featherweight contender in the world. He lost his Dana White’s Contender Series fight in September 2021 and racked up two wins in Lux Fight League and Fury FC before making his UFC debut against Movsar Evloev on short notice in May 2023.

    Although Lopes lost the Evloev fight, his impressive performance solidified his position in the promotion. Since then, he’s won five fights in a row and following the latest victory over Brian Ortega, he’s eyeing a title fight or a title eliminator with Alexander Volkanovski.

    The former UFC featherweight kingpin has finally revealed what would compel him to take on Lopes instead of the winner of Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway…

    Alexander Volkanovski Reveals The Only Scenario Where Fighting Diego Lopes Would Make Sense For Him

    Volkanovski appeared on the Submission Radio YouTube channel to clear the air around his next fight. When asked about Lopes, “The Great” stuck to what he’s been saying ever since losing the title. He’ll return to fight for the undisputed UFC featherweight championship and he’ll share the Octagon with Lopes if a title is involved.

    Volk presented a scenario where either Holloway or Topuria might need time off after their UFC 308 showdown. He remembered that Holloway also has the BMF belt and can move up weight classes which might incentivize the UFC to make an interim title fight.

    “If it was going to be him next, you know, something would have to happen to one of the guys, you know, from the fight where they get injured or move divisions or whatnot, you know. And there’s an interim title or something like that, obviously I’m not scared of nobody but I’ll fight for the title and that’s that. So that’s the only way that sort of happens, but you know you never know what happens right? Like the boys, the guys are fighting. Max has got a BMF belt. What’s he going to do if, you know? If Max wins, what’s his next fight? Is he defending the featherweight belt straight away or is he going BMF so that could open the door for maybe a, you know, an interim or something.”

    So, an interim title fight is the only thing that would motivate Volkanovski to fight Lopes. Volk being Volk, he didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a non-title fight with the Brazilian prospect. However, he seems adamant about returning to only fight for the featherweight belt for now.

  • ‘No Guarantees’ – UFC HOFer Worries Diego Lopes Will Surpass Alexander Volkanovski In Featherweight Title Shot Race

    ‘No Guarantees’ – UFC HOFer Worries Diego Lopes Will Surpass Alexander Volkanovski In Featherweight Title Shot Race

    The UFC featherweight division has changed a lot in the last twelve months. Alexander Volkanovski, who looked unbeatable in the weight class, lost via knockout to a rising undefeated prospect Ilia Topuria in February 2024.

    Max Holloway, after clearing out most of the top contenders in the division, moved up to lightweight and knocked out Justin Gaethje at UFC 300. While the former champion has been resting and hoping to fight for the title upon his return, Diego Lopes has become an undeniable contender as well, following his dominant win over Brian Ortega.

    With Lopes eyeing a fight in December, UFC legend Chael Sonnen is concerned about its impact on Volkanovski’s title shot…

    Chael Sonnen Shares The Implications Of Diego Lopes Calling Out Alexander Volkanovski

    Sonnen recently discussed the current state of the UFC featherweight division on his YouTube channel. He looked back at how quickly “The Great” went from being P4P No. 1 to waiting for a title shot in a division he reigned over for five years.

    Things seemed straightforward with Holloway fighting Topuria, as Volkanovski would be next while getting the much-needed rest after two straight KO losses. However, Sonnen claims that Lopes agreeing to be the backup for Topuria vs. Holloway at UFC 308 could be a problem for the former kingpin.

    “The American Gangster” remembered that backup fighters for UFC title fights have often ended up getting the title shot next. Although Volkanovski’s legacy cannot be questioned, Sonnen reminded viewers that there are no guarantees in the fight business.

    “Diego Lopes is ready to fight right now, and to back that up, will fly to a different continent and sit in the front row should he need to which is the exact process that Volkanovski did in the exact arena to get his opportunity against Islam. I don’t know how this is going to play out and I don’t have a horse in the race. Diego Lopes has done nothing, I’ve been as impressed as you guys are. Volkanovski, one of the all-time greats, one of my absolute favorite fighters. I don’t have a horse in this race, but make no mistake, there is a race.”

    The former UFC title challenger also pointed out that Lopes is targeting a fight with “The Great” if he doesn’t step in for anyone in November. Yet again, it would be hard for Volkanovski to decline this fight and then ask for a title shot over Lopes.

    “Whether Diego Lopes meant to do this cause secretly, he’s strategically very good at this or Volkanovski doesn’t know what’s happening. He’s going to sit one out because he thinks he has a guarantee. There are no guarantees. There’s one bout agreement, it goes to one guy. There is officially a call out by Lopes, Volkanovski, the ball is yours.”

    All in all, Sonnen worries that Volkanovski’s path to reclaiming the UFC featherweight title is no longer uncomplicated.

  • Diego Lopes Eyes Former Champion For Potential December Return: ‘He Doesn’t Like To Wait, & Neither Do I…’

    Diego Lopes Eyes Former Champion For Potential December Return: ‘He Doesn’t Like To Wait, & Neither Do I…’

    Diego Lopes recently shared his ambitious plans for the future, stating his intention to challenge a former UFC featherweight champion upon his potential return in December.

    Lopes secured perhaps the most defining triumph of his career to date when he outclassed Brian Ortega, earning a unanimous decision win at Noche UFC 306 earlier this month.

    The victory not only skyrocketed the 29-year-old to the #3 spot in the 145-pound division but also significantly boosted his stock. Lopes has been on an absolute tear over the past year, racking up five consecutive wins and cementing his status as a force to be reckoned with.

    Lopes is now primed for high-stakes matchups, eager to secure his first title shot at the earliest opportunity…

    Lopes Offers To Serve As UFC 308 Backup Or Sets Sights On Volkanovski For December

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Lopes reiterated his willingness to step in as the backup fighter for the featherweight title bout between reigning champion Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway at UFC 308 next month.

    The surging contender also mentioned that if those plans fall through, he’s eager to face former longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski in December to move a step closer to the title.

    “If that doesn’t happen, we’d like the possibility of fighting Volkanovski in December,” Lopes said. “He doesn’t like to wait, and neither do I, so that could be a good fight. A lot can happen, but I think the two most viable options for us right now are being the backup fighter in Abu Dhabi or fighting Volkanovski in December. The UFC is aware that I’m available for [UFC 308], so it depends on what they want to do.”

    Lopes went on to express that a potential clash with “The Great” would present a highly intriguing stylistic matchup.

    “The Volk fight would be very interesting because he’s shown he can adapt well to everybody’s style, especially when his opponent is taller until he fought Topuria. But I think I can also adapt well to guys who are shorter than me, so it would be a very interesting fight.”

    Volkanovski is currently on a hiatus, having not fought since suffering the first back-to-back losses of his career. “The Great” was dethroned at UFC 298 this past February, where he endured a second-round knockout by Ilia Topuria, bringing an end to the title reign he had held since December 2019.

    • Read More: Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’
  • Noche UFC 306’s Diego Lopes Chooses Between Volkanovski, Holloway, & Topuria: ‘My Dream Fight…’

    Noche UFC 306’s Diego Lopes Chooses Between Volkanovski, Holloway, & Topuria: ‘My Dream Fight…’

    For a long time now, the faces at the top of the UFC’s featherweight division have remained the same cast of elite level competitors.

    Ilia Topuria breathed a lot of new life into the 145-pound title mix after he took the title off of the long-time champion, Alexander Volkanovski, earlier this year.

    At UFC 306 this weekend, Diego Lopes will look to enter that conversation by taking out another of the division’s stalwart contenders in Brian Ortega.

    With Volkanovski watching closely as Topuria defends the belt for the first time against Max Holloway at UFC 308, there are some very exciting potential fights on the horizon for Lopes if he’s able to get past “T-City” on September 14.

    Diego Lopes Says Max Holloway Is His Dream Fight Whether It’s For A Title Or Not

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Lopes gave his thoughts on who he would rather face out of that trio of world class fighters.

    With four consecutive wins under his belt since a defeat on his late notice debut, the Brazilian finds himself in a big opportunity to leap up the top 15 rankings if he can take out Ortega, who holds the #3 position right now.

    None of these fights are that far away for him if he puts on a big performance at the Sphere on Saturday night and though he rates all three men highly, his preference is to fight Holloway.

    Lopes sees a clash with “Blessed” as his ideal scenario because of the respect that he has for the BMF champion.

    That being said, he did also mention inevitably facing the current champion Topuria down the line as two of the division’s most exciting additions in recent years are sure to meet at some stage.

    “Bro, I’m big fans for the Max and the Volk but my dream fight is Max. My dream fight is Max, a lot of respect for Max. The guy stay in the UFC for so long time, the guy fight everybody, everybody in the rankings, everybody in the UFC. Max is my dream fight, title or no title. Max is my dream fight for so much respect for your career but for who you want to fight for the title, I don’t know bro. I think the division needs the new face you know, I think it’s me and Ilia is the big fight for everybody, for the new face.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Shocked By Brian Ortega’s Underdog Status At Noche UFC: ‘Lopes Is Very Good, But…’

  • Alexander Volkanovski Compares Noche UFC 306 Fighter To Himself In Prediction

    Alexander Volkanovski Compares Noche UFC 306 Fighter To Himself In Prediction

    Alexander Volkanovski recently likened Merab Dvalishvili’s resilience to his own in his prediction for Noche UFC 306.

    Dvalishvili is set to challenge reigning UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley in the headlining bout of the highly anticipated pay-per-view event, slated to take place this Saturday at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Despite riding the wave of an impressive 10-fight win streak, “The Machine” had to tirelessly push for his long-awaited title shot. Now, standing in his path is one of the UFC’s most skilled strikers. While Dvalishvili is widely believed to hold the grappling edge, he plans to use constant forward pressure and sharp boxing to wear O’Malley down.

    Dvalishvili has long proven his ability to turn his cardio into a relentless force, making it one of the defining strengths of his fighting style. Volkanovski believes this unmatched endurance is what truly sets him apart in his upcoming showdown with “Suga”…

    Volkanovski Says Keeping Dvalishvili At Bay Is A Tough Task

    In a recent prediction video for Noche UFC 306 on his YouTube channel, “The Great” shared his thoughts on the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili matchup. The former UFC featherweight champion acknowledged that while “The Machine” boasts exceptional wrestling prowess, he remains susceptible to O’Malley’s razor-sharp striking accuracy.

    “Is he [Dvalishvili] gonna be open to being hit? Yes, I believe so,” Volkanovski said. “I think Sean O’Malley’s eye is incredible. His movement’s gonna make it a little bit hard, but his relentless takedown pressure, or his pressure on takedowns, I think he’s gonna eventually get it unless he gets knocked out. I don’t care how good your footwork is, you’re not going to keep Merab away from you unless you put his lights out. That’s the only way you don’t get taken down. I think Merab is going to eventually get the takedown. I don’t care how good Sean O’Malley’s footwork is, the clinch is going to be there.”

    Volkanovski went on to say that Dvalishvili shares the same unyielding, never-back-down mentality that he himself possesses, a trait that makes fighters like them incredibly difficult to defeat.

    “I believe, like myself, there are quite a few fighters out there who just never give up. They’re constantly there, just grinding and grinding, and it’s just too much for people. For someone like Merab, I feel like the only way I see him losing is by getting knocked out. That’s how I’ve always seen myself. I’ve always been quite confident, but I don’t believe anyone’s going to go out there and out-grind me or out-work me.”

    While “The Great” predicted that Dvalishvili could clinch a win by methodically imposing his will over the entire 25-minute bout, he also warned that the ever-present danger of a knockout from O’Malley looms large.

  • Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’ 

    Chael Sonnen Outlines What He Wants To See Next For Alexander Volkanovski: ‘Unless You Want To Be A Gatekeeper…’ 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes lightweight is a must if Alexander Volkanovski wants to continue fighting at the highest level.

    It’s uncertain what the future holds for Volkanovski, who has lost three of four fights since the start of 2023. While the first came in narrow fashion against Islam Makhachev, he’s since suffered brutal knockouts at the hands of the Dagestani lightweight king and Ilia Topuria.

    The Australian hasn’t been in action since being unseated from the featherweight throne by Topuria this past February, but it appears “Alexander the Great” is ready to bring his layoff to a close.

    The questions is: featherweight or lightweight?

    While Volkanovski has set his sights on regaining the strap at 145 pounds, he’s also pondered taking a fun matchup at 155 pounds while “El Matador” and Max Holloway handle business at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi next month.

    The Aussie’s most recent comments saw him express a willingness to wait for a showdown with the winner of the October 26 main event. Sonnen, however, thinks remaining at featherweight and insisting on a title bout could prove unwise…

    Sonnen Advises Volkanovski To Fight Oliveira, Avoid Another Title Fight Next

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen pondered the position that Volkanovski currently finds himself in.

    “The American Gangster” acknowledged talk of the Aussie having a third attempt at entering the 155-pound winner’s circle against Charles Oliveira, advising him to push for that over potential “gatekeeper” status in the featherweight division should he lose another title fight.

    “Volk still wants to come back. Where do we want to put him?” Sonnen asked. “If he came in and said, ‘I’m a title shot guy, that’s it,’ I believe they would say, ‘Okay.’ … But he doesn’t want to fight anyone specific…he just wants the title back. That is a different motivation. I won’t question it. I’m speaking for me, as a fan; I would rather a match, a specific match.

    “You wanna know what I want for Volk? … I want him at ’55. And I don’t want to talk about titles right now. I want to see an awesome match. I want to see Volk and Charles Oliveira at 155 pounds,” Sonnen continued. “I also think outcome-wise, I think you land in a higher spot whether you beat Charles or you don’t beat Charles. You go into a championship (fight) and you get beat, that will never return. That hope and dream is gone forever, forever. … It’s to the point where unless you want to be a gatekeeper of some regard, here are your walking papers. It would be that severe in a title fight. That would not be the case at 155 versus Charles.”

    Whether or not Volkanovski heeds Sonnen’s advice remains to be seen.

    But regardless, it’s clear that the Australian standout hasn’t lost his fire and motivation to have his hand raised inside the Octagon once again.

  • UFC Champion Feels Kamaru Usman’s Legacy Doesn’t Compare With Israel Adesanya Or Alexander Volkanovski

    UFC Champion Feels Kamaru Usman’s Legacy Doesn’t Compare With Israel Adesanya Or Alexander Volkanovski

    Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has been trading some comments with the title’s former holder, Kamaru Usman.

    Despite being without a win since his second victory over Colby Covington, “The Nigerian Nightmare” is still very much in the title mix at 170-pounds.

    He may have lost back-to-back fights against Leon Edwards and came up short when attempting to beat Khamzat Chimaev up a weight class on late notice, but his prior winning streak in the division speaks for itself.

    Muhammad, however, doesn’t have the same kind of respect for the run that Usman went on, mostly because of his conduct when he was the champion.

    Belal Muhammad Says Kamaru Usman Picked Opponents During His Welterweight Title Reign

    Muhammad always felt that during his own welterweight winning streak, he was being overlooked by the guys at the top who didn’t want to fight him.

    He had this issue with Edwards before they met in a rematch at UFC 304 and he has the same problem with Usman.

    In an interview with Submission Radio, he spoke about why he doesn’t believe that the former champion deserves another shot at the title without returning to the win column first.

    The current titleholder, who appears to be facing Shavkat Rakhmonov next, says that Usman chose to ignore him and other viable contenders like Vicente Luque in order to take bigger money fights against the likes of Jorge Masvidal.

    Comparing Usman to other long-reigning champions of this era in Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski, Muhammad believes that he isn’t in the same conversation because he picked opponents instead of fighting the next best guy at all times.

    “If you wanted to cement yourself as the best welterweight, you do what Adesanya did or Volkanovski, who’s the next best guy. Who’s the guy that’s right there and he didn’t do that. So for him to say like now he’s calling my name, like oh now you noticed me because I have the target on my back but before you act like you didn’t know who I was. I’ve been chasing you, I’ve been here, I’ve been talking.”

    Read also: ‘Mates With Jorge Masvidal’ – MMA Analyst Explains Why Rumored Dustin Poirier vs. Colby Covington Fight Makes Perfect Sense

  • Kai Kara-France Explains Choosing Volkanovski Over Jones As UFC GOAT: ‘It’s More Than Just The Fighting…’

    Kai Kara-France Explains Choosing Volkanovski Over Jones As UFC GOAT: ‘It’s More Than Just The Fighting…’

    UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France believes factors outside of the cage eliminate heavyweight champion Jon Jones from the GOAT conversation.

    Not many debates continuously rage on in the mixed martial arts community quite like the GOAT back-and-forth, which usually sees the likes of Jones, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and Demetrious Johnson, among others, vying for the all-time throne.

    Seemingly leading the charge is “Bones,” a former two-time light heavyweight kingpin whose most recent outing saw him achieve two-division glory. Those pieces of gold sit alongside numerous records on MMA’s biggest stage.

    But Kara-France, one of the leading names set to make the walk at the UFC 305 pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia, this weekend, sees things differently.

    Don’t tell Dana White…

    Kara-France: ‘The Man Behind The Gloves’ Determines The UFC GOAT

    During a fight week interview with Brook and Jordan from The Morning Shift, Kara-France answered a number of quick-fire questions, including on the subject of who holds the crown as the UFC’s greatest of all time.

    While the accomplishments of Jones have left him as the clear pick in the eyes of many, “Don’t Blink” falls on the side of the debate that feels his antics outside of the Octagon take him out of the equation.

    And when it comes to coupling in-cage feats with a stand-up personality and good actions away from fights, Kara-France thinks Volkanovski fits the bill perfectly.

    “To be the GOAT, it’s more than just the fighting. It’s the person, it’s the man behind the gloves,” Kara-France said. “Volk (is the GOAT). Bro, the amount of challenges this guy’s had to overcome. He’s fought the best guys for years. I’ll leave it at that.”

    Volkanovski is currently without a fight booked, having been unseated from the featherweight throne in violent fashion by Ilia Topuria this past February.

    The Australian is, however, back in training, and with his frequent City Kickboxing training partners close to his home for UFC 305 this weekend, he’s been lending a helping hand for any last-minute preparations during fight week.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Feels UFC 305 Main Card Fighter Is ‘Due’ For A ‘Big KO Finish’: ‘Very Dangerous On The Feet…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Feels UFC 305 Main Card Fighter Is ‘Due’ For A ‘Big KO Finish’: ‘Very Dangerous On The Feet…’

    The UFC is headed back down under this weekend for UFC 305 which takes place in Perth, Australia on August 17.

    As expected, there’s a lot of Australasian representatives on the card in some big fights and that’s certainly the case for heavyweight fan favorite Tai Tuivasa.

    The Aussie slugger was on a great run of results heading into his main event clash with Ciryl Gane in September of 2022, following five consecutive stoppage victories.

    Since suffering a defeat to Gane, he is winless inside the Octagon and has lost four in a row with two coming via knockout and the other two by submission.

    Tuivasa now finds himself in a spot where he needs to get back in the win column and fortunately for him, he’s in a match-up that should suit him.

    Alexander Volkanovski Picks Tai Tuivasa To Bounce Back In A Big Way At UFC 305

    Tuivasa is set to meet fellow heavyweight striker and knockout artist Jairzinho Rozenstruik this weekend as top 15 heavyweights throw down in Perth.

    During his recent breakdown of the card, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski predicted a big win for Tuivasa to silence the critics.

    He highlighted how despite “Bam Bam” coming in as the underdog this time around, he’s in a good position to cause an upset with his back against the wall and the Australian fans behind him.

    “Home crowd, against a striker, I like them odds. I like them odds. Again, Rozenstruik is an incredible striker, I think he did a lot of kickboxing even before UFC so he’s no easy fight but I mean I feel like Tai Tuivasa is going to come out and land a finish. I think he can get the big KO finish. He’s due for one so I’m going to go ‘Bam Bam’. Again, everyone loves ‘Bam Bam’ and another way to keep this big day of fights in Perth rolling is a big ‘Bam Bam’ knockout and shoey afterwards.”

    Read also: Serghei Spivac Gives Short & Sweet Response To Jailton Almeida’s Callout Following His UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

  • Alexander Volkanovski Warns Mateusz Gamrot: ‘Dan Hooker Is No Joke When It Comes To Wrestling Defense’

    Alexander Volkanovski Warns Mateusz Gamrot: ‘Dan Hooker Is No Joke When It Comes To Wrestling Defense’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has insisted Mateusz Gamrot won’t have it all his own way in the grappling department against Dan Hooker this weekend.

    Hooker will mark one of many Oceanic natives taking to the Octagon close to home at the upcoming UFC 305 pay-per-view event, which goes down inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    The lightweight fan favorite had long been calling for a spot on the high-profile card, and he got his wish alongside a major opportunity to climb back up the ranks.

    “The Hangman” is set to fight six places up the ladder against Gamrot, the #5-ranked contender at 155 pounds. The Polish fighter has been on a charge in the division, using his smothering wrestling game to get the better of names like Arman Tsarukyan, Jalin Turner, and Rafael dos Anjos in recent years.

    In Hooker, though, Volkanovski thinks Gamrot will run into a hurdle too tall…

    Volkanovski Backs Hooker To Withstand Gamrot’s Wrestling, Find A Finish At UFC 305

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski broke down and provided his picks for the major matchups set to play out at UFC 305 in Perth this Saturday (Sunday morning local time).

    Among a number of Volkanovski’s frequent training partners over at City Kickboxing set to compete at the event is Hooker, who will enter his matchup with Gamrot as the underdog.

    The brawling striker has long had wrestling pointed to as a deficiency in his game, with champion Islam Makhachev being the last to expose it back in 2021. But while “Gamer” has shown a strong ground game, Volkanovski believes it takes more than what he can offer to get past Hooker’s defenses.

    “Gamrot is obviously gonna be coming for them takedowns. He’s a very, very, heavy wrestler, grappler,” Volkanovski said. “Look, Dan Hooker is hard to take down. Dan Hooker is no joke when it comes to wrestling defense and then submissions as you’re trying to take him down. You’ve seen the work Dan Hooker can do.

    “I swear, even the last times I’ve been training with him, he’s still got it. 10 years in the UFC and I think he looks better probably now than he did before. The last time I trained with him, he was looking good,” Volkanovski continued. “Last time Dan Hooker faced someone like (Gamrot), it was Islam Makhachev. Remember, short notice, and I feel Islam’s a little more trickier with takedowns. … Gamrot’s gonna be more aggressive with the wrestling … I just feel like Hooker can do enough to make that hard. … Hooker has got incredible timing for the takedown defense. … Hooker might find the finish here.”

    Hooker will look to prove Volkanovski’s prediction correct come fight night Down Under. And should he accomplish that feat, a return to the lightweight top five and title contention should be on the cards for the veteran New Zealander.

  • MMA News Today: Sean O’Malley Criticizes Conor McGregor’s ‘Slow & Sloppy’ Pad Work, Amped Up Belal Muhammad & Alexander Volkanovski Trade Barbs After UFC 304, & More

    MMA News Today: Sean O’Malley Criticizes Conor McGregor’s ‘Slow & Sloppy’ Pad Work, Amped Up Belal Muhammad & Alexander Volkanovski Trade Barbs After UFC 304, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For August 2, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • O’Malley reviews latest McGregor footage
    • Muhammad and Volkanovski trade words after UFC 304 comments
    • Former strawweight champion set to return at UFC 307

    Sean O’Malley Critiques Conor McGregor’s Latest Pad Work Video On Social Media

    After taking some time to recover from his injury that led to the cancellation of his return at UFC 303, Conor McGregor appears to be getting back to work.

    “The Notorious” is hopeful of returning later this year but he appeared to have taken his foot off the gas once June 29 was ruled out.

    His latest training footage came courtesy of his own social media accounts, with the Irishman seen working on his boxing and hitting pads.

    UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who has engaged in some interactions with McGregor as of late, gave his review via a reply to the post.

    McGregor also commented in response, calling for O’Malley to try and do better whilst telling him to “cheer up”.

    Belal Muhammad & Alexander Volkanovski Beef After Pre-Fight Comments

    During a recent episode of Remember The Show, Belal Muhammad hit back at all his fellow fighters that doubted him ahead of UFC 304.

    The new welterweight champion specifically referenced Alexander Volkanovski, who was in attendance this past weekend in Manchester, and suggested that Muhammad would be a good style clash for him.

    “You guys were hating, all these guys wanted to come out. Volkanovski, ‘Man I think Belal’s a good match-up for me if I fight him.’ Shut up bro, I’ll smack the hell out of you. All these guys right, there’s nobody in the UFC that will beat me.”

    Volkanovski responded on social media where he doubled down on his previous statement and told Muhammad to say that to him the next time they cross paths.

    “@bullyb170 you have every reason to hate on what I said about you being a good stylistic match up for me but I truly believe that, even after your last fight, you didn’t show me anything different. You still mad because I accidentally missed your call…pathetic! Say ‘shut up, I’ll smack the shit out of you’ to my face and see what happens.”

    “Remember The Name” had the final word on the matter in a follow-up post with a short and to the point message.

    Carla Esparza Set To Return At UFC 307 In Utah Against Former Foe

    Former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza is expected to return for the first time since losing her title to Weili Zhang in November of 2022.

    She took the majority of 2023 and 2024 off after giving birth to her son and is now targeted to compete in a rematch at UFC 307 on October 5.

    Esparza and Tecia Pennington first met back on The Ultimate Fighter a decade ago with “Cookie Monster” getting the nod in that quarterfinal clash before going on to win the series.

    MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported the fight which will see both women look to return to the win column for the first time in several years.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • VIDEO: Alexander Volkanovski Shoots Takedown In Attempt To Stop Bantamweight Attacking Michael Page At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel

    VIDEO: Alexander Volkanovski Shoots Takedown In Attempt To Stop Bantamweight Attacking Michael Page At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel

    It would seem that the UFC security had to deal with more than just fight week altercations in Manchester last week…

    The promotion was recently back across the pond to stage its return to Manchester, England, for the first time in close to a decade. The UFC 304 pay-per-view went down at the Co-op Live, with two title fights and a host of intriguing matchups playing out.

    Even before fight night, some fighters couldn’t keep their hands off one another. Early in fight week, videos came out showing opponents Muhammad Mokaev and Manel Kape coming to blows after the former landed a sucker-punch outside the fighter hotel.

    And that evidently wasn’t the only scrap UFC security had to deal with at the location.

    Following the event, ex-UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski detailed another altercation in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. While he didn’t provide the names of those involved, he described his attempts to calm things down.

    “I don’t know if I should even bring it up. I don’t know; maybe I won’t bring it up. You guys are gonna hate me for that. I won’t say who was involved, but I’ll tell you a little bit,” Volkanovski said. “Something happened in the lobby between two guys. One was a fighter; I don’t know if the other guy was a fighter. I don’t think he was random, but stuff happened.

    “There might have been a little punch thrown. The other guy tried to get to him. Security tried to stop it. I’m like, ‘It’s not worth it, it’s not worth the cops.’ I’m trying to stop it,” Volkanovski continued. “Guys were stepping and getting around all the security guards. I was trying to help, but he stepped around me as well. I’m like, ‘This guy has got some good movement.’ He’s going again. I’m trying to tell him to ‘chill out.’ Again, he’s come on; I’ve tried to grab him. We almost ran into the bottom of the stairs, so we sort of went down. I fell to my knees. As I’m trying to hold him, he slipped out. I was like, ‘This guy is very slippery.’”

    Now, the two fighters in question have seemingly been revealed after footage emerged of the incident.

    Basharat, Page Get Into It At UFC 304 Fighter Hotel, Volkanovski Among Peacekeepers

    This week, the @CasualsCorner_ account on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video showing an altercation at the fighter hotel in the aftermath of UFC 304 last weekend.

    While the start of the confrontation was not shown, the footage appears to show security attempting to stop UFC bantamweight prospect Farid Basharat from getting at welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page.

    Among those attempting to prevent an all-out brawl is Volkanovski, who can even be seen shooting a takedown (unsuccessfully) in the hopes of stalling Basharat’s progress.

    Interestingly, Basharat has previously trained at the London Shootfighters gym in London, which is the longtime home of Page.

    It’s unclear what sparked the animosity between the pair. But in a comment posted on social media, Basharat accused “MVP” of throwing the first punch at the UFC 304 fighter hotel.

  • Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira Lists 8 Opponent Options For Fans To Choose From For His UFC Return: ‘Who Would You Like To See?’

    Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.

    With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.

    Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.

    Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.

    From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…

    Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier

    Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:

    • Islam Makhachev
    • Arman Tsarukyan
    • Dustin Poirier
    • Conor McGregor
    • Max Holloway
    • Justin Gaethje
    • Alexander Volkanovski
    • Colby Covington

    Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.

    “Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”

    “Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.

    The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.

    Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.

    Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Angling To Be Short-Notice Replacement For Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway: ‘I’ll Actually Be Ready This Time…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Angling To Be Short-Notice Replacement For Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway: ‘I’ll Actually Be Ready This Time…’

    Alexander Volkanovski was one of the most active champions on the roster during his UFC featherweight title reign but after losing the belt earlier this year, he’s finally taken some long overdue time off.

    Rather than jumping right back into a rematch with Ilia Topuria following their first encounter at UFC 298, he made the decision to wait and see how things play out.

    In his absence, Topuria is expected to face BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the coming months with a recent social media post from the champion suggesting that an announcement isn’t far away.

    Though Volkanovski is going to be ready and waiting for the winner, he may also be keeping his phone by his side during fight week for the featherweight title bout.

    Alexander Volkanovski Says He Will Be Fight-Ready Just In Case He’s Needed

    It has become a regular joke amongst MMA fans that Volkanovski will answer the call to step in for absolutely anybody after what went down at UFC 294 last year.

    The 145-pound champion, at the time, stepped in on two weeks notice to face lightweight king Islam Makhachev in a rematch and ultimately regretted his decision after the fight didn’t go his way.

    Despite his coaches believing that this was the wrong decision to make at the time, it doesn’t appear to have deterred Volkanovski.

    He openly admitted that he wasn’t in fighting shape when agreeing to face Makhachev but he’s now ready to ensure that if the UFC come calling, he’s good to go.

    During UFC 304 fight week, he told The Mac Life in an interview that though he’s happy to wait to face Topuria or Holloway, he will be just one call away if either man is unfit to compete.

    “It’s a situation obviously, again, I’m going to be getting antsy but you know, we’ve got plenty of good content coming. I’m going to, you know, I will stay ready and Ash [manager] ain’t going to like this one. I’ll be training really hard and fight fit cuz if there is a late notice, cuz that s*** excites me man, it gets me going but I’ll actually be ready for it this time. I’ll make sure I’m in good nick all year round because I want, so even me having that in my head that if you have to save the day here or there, it’s going to help in training, keep things exciting.”

    Read also: Beneil Dariush Brands Teammate Giga Chikadze The ‘Best In The World When He’s On’ Ahead Of UFC 304

  • Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’

    Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’

    Two very different styles will clash during the main card of UFC 304 this weekend as Paddy Pimblett takes on Bobby Green in a huge lightweight contest.

    “The Baddy” has gone to the scorecards in his last two fights after finishing his first three opponents inside the Octagon but he’s always dangerous.

    Whilst the Englishman’s physical prowess and submission skills are a big threat, the dangers that Green presents are very different.

    With this fight being the big number 50 on his pro record, the veteran lightweight contender is a slick boxer who often tricks opponents into overcommitting.

    A former UFC champion believes that this could be the story of the fight come Saturday night in Manchester.

    Alexander Volkanovski Expects King Green To Play The Matador Against Paddy Pimblett

    During his breakdown of the card on his YouTube channel, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski spoke about the difficulties of fighting someone like Green.

    Green often carries his hands by his side and will rely on his reaction time to get opponents to throw at him so that he can slip and counter with his fast hands and combinations.

    Pimblett has been working extensively on his striking in recent times and there have been questions in the past about how solid his technique is, when fists start flying.

    Volkanovski sided with Green when giving his picks for the card and he believes that a crucial aspect of this fight will be the 155-pound stalwart playing his usual game.

    “I’m going to have to go with Bobby Green, I think he’s the safer bet here. It’s going to be a three-round fight. Paddy Pimblett, yeah I find it, it’s going to be hard for him to take him down and get a finish. Can he go and upset, you know, hometown crowd. I don’t think that’s going to faze Bobby Green.

    “Again, Bobby Green’s going to put himself in positions where Paddy Pimblett’s going to feel he can fire and going to lull him into shots. I guarantee we’re going to see that pretty much straight away. I feel Bobby Green’s going to hit him, hurt him, maybe Paddy Pimblett would start trying to look for the shots straight after that. Does he get them? Or does he get hurt straight away? I’m not sure.”

  • Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight

    Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight

    Alexander Volkanovski appears uncertain whether Jon Jones can prevail against Tom Aspinall in a potential heavyweight showdown.

    When Aspinall stepped up on short notice and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last November to claim the interim heavyweight title, he immediately set his sights on a title unification bout against the reigning champion.

    However, “Bones” has consistently dismissed the challenge, even belittling Aspinall’s dominance in the division. Instead, Jones has expressed his desire to reschedule his canceled bout with former longtime titleholder Stipe Miocic, with their anticipated clash seemingly set for later this year.

    With Jones currently out of the picture for now, Aspinall has chosen to make the first defense of his interim heavyweight belt against former foe Curtis Blaydes. The rematch will serve as the co-main event of UFC 304, set to take place this Saturday on Aspinall’s home turf in Manchester.

    If the 31-year-old Englishman triumphs over Blaydes on July 27, the ultimate matchup for him and fans alike would undoubtedly be a showdown with Jones.

    “Bones” is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. However, Volkanovski believes Aspinall possesses the complete arsenal necessary to challenge and potentially disrupt Jones’ storied legacy…

    Volkanovski Foresees Aspinall’s Victory Over Jones

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Great” delved into his predictions for the upcoming UFC 304 card. Volkanovski confidently picked Aspinall to triumph over Blaydes and went on to heap praise on the Brit, assessing his chances against Jones in a potential heavyweight showdown.

    The former UFC featherweight champion asserted that if there’s anyone on the current heavyweight roster capable of standing toe-to-toe with Jones and perhaps even having the upper hand, it’s Aspinall.

    “I think Tom Aspinall is too good,” Volkanovski said. “But what I mean is compared to other fighters, which I’m always going to pick Tom Aspinall. Because I believe he’s that good Jon Jones, I want to see that fight. Jon Jones is that good, and he can maybe handle a heavyweight Tom Aspinall.

    “But if anyone’s ever going to beat Jon Jones, it’s someone like Tom Aspinall. He can really mix it up still fast; he’s going to be just as fast as Jon Jones you get what I mean it’s he’s that good.”

    Aspinall’s sole setback in his eight Octagon appearances occurred two years ago at UFC Fight Night London when he sustained a severe knee injury in the first round against “Razor”. Now, he is determined to rectify that misfortune.

    While the prospect of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown tantalizes the MMA community, its realization seems distant. Jones remains steadfast in his desire to face Miocic upon his return and has even hinted at potentially hanging up his gloves after that bout.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Downplays Belal Muhammad’s Chances Against Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘TKO Or KO, I Definitely Can See’

    Alexander Volkanovski Downplays Belal Muhammad’s Chances Against Leon Edwards At UFC 304: ‘TKO Or KO, I Definitely Can See’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t expect to hear ‘and new’ when Belal Muhammad challenges Leon Edwards this weekend.

    The pair are set to headline Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England, with Muhammad heading to enemy territory in pursuit of Edwards’ welterweight title.

    Their clash will mark one of two championship rematches set for July 27, with it following a bout for the interim heavyweight strap between Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes.

    When Edwards and Muhammad first collided back in 2021, an accidental eye poke rendered “Remember the Name” unable to continue. While “Rocky’s” early success in that bout has left him as a heavy favorite in the eyes of many, Muhammad has vowed to finish him with ease at UFC 304.

    One ex-titleholder doesn’t see much chance of that coming to fruition across the pond…

    Volkanovski Expects Edwards To Retain Welterweight Gold At UFC 304

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski provided his picks and predictions for four major matchups set to play out in Manchester this Saturday night, including the two championship headliners.

    Rounding out a whitewash for the favorites, “Alexander the Great” is backing Edwards to get the job done against Muhammad at the second time of trying.

    While Volkanovski acknowledged the challenger’s ability, he dismissed the notion that Muhammad boasts any tools capable of threatening Edwards come fight night. And with that in mind, he wouldn’t be surprised to see the champ find the knockout on July 27.

    “I thought Leon was looking good before that (eye poke) happened,” Volkanovski said of their first fight. “I’m gonna go with Leon Edwards. … He’s definitely the favorite. He’s rock solid. You’ve seen his wrestling defense, you’ve seen his grappling. He’s actually very well-rounded. Everyone has always thought he was a striker, but he’s very well-rounded. He was able to take Colby down…and Usman. It just shows you how good Leon Edwards is. And his striking is beautiful.

    “Belal Muhammad, a lot of people give him a hard time. … He is very calculated, doesn’t take unnecessary risks,” Volkanovski continued. “But the thing is, I thought he (Edwards) was quite aggressive in their first fight, and I think we’re gonna see that again. … He’s gonna let his hands go, which is gonna make him a lot more dangerous. … Belal, obviously is on a mad tear. He’s well-rounded, he’s got a lot of tools. But the tools that he has won’t work anywhere that’s gonna give Leon Edwards a massive threat. Can’t see him getting a finish; I think it’s gonna be very hard for him to win a decision too. … Can Leon Edwards get the finish? I think he can…TKO or KO, I definitely can see.”

    Edwards will hope to prove Volkanovski right and further enhance his legacy at 170 pounds in the process.

    And in addition to recording a third successful defense and cementing his grip on that divisional crown, another retention will only move “Rocky” closer to his goal of challenging for two-weight glory up at 185 pounds down the line.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

    Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

    Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently responded to the naysayers questioning the supposed burnout affecting both his and Israel Adesanya’s fighting careers, pointing to their stellar records as UFC champions.

    “Alexander the Great” suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February, marking his first setback as a featherweight. This loss came on the heels of another finish by reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the first round at UFC 294 last October, making it Volkanovski’s second consecutive KO defeat.

    The loss to Topuria concluded his four-year tenure as champion. Volkanovski, one of the UFC’s most active fighters, has participated in nine title bouts over the past five years. However, the Australian is now on a break from the Octagon to focus on his mental health and recuperate.

    A segment of the MMA community has voiced apprehensions that Volkanovski’s recent defeats stem from his grueling schedule, suggesting that his relentless string of back-to-back fights has led to burnout.

    However, “Alexander the Great” rebuffs these claims, insisting that his relentless pace in competition has been a key factor in his and his close friend and City Kickboxing training partner Adesanya’s rise to greatness as champions…

    Volkanovski Credits Active Competition for His & Adesanya’s Championship Success

    During a recent interview on the FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel with Adesanya’s younger brother, Volkanovski addressed critics who doubt their careers.

    The former featherweight titleholder expressed that he finds “The Last Stylebender’s” reign as middleweight champion deeply inspiring for his own journey.

    “Being active is where you’re gonna make your most money. So get active. I learned that from Izzy, he’s got the right form, and I love it. When we talk about our mentality, like myself and Israel Adesanya, people start to say, ‘Oh, you burned yourself out,’ and they try to look at it as a bad thing.

    “But we wouldn’t be the champions we were. We wouldn’t be in the position we are now mentally and everything. Our mentality and our mindset, that’s what made us great champions to be able to defend that.”

    The 35-year-old Aussie further expressed his gratitude for avoiding extended layoffs from fighting, attributing his legacy as a dominant champion to his relentless activity in the sport.

    “That mentality got us, how many times defending champ? … But I was thankful that I was like that for how long I did. I wouldn’t have the appreciation from the people if I weren’t like that, I wouldn’t have the money in the bank like I do, and I wouldn’t be able to look after my family like I’m able to right now if it wasn’t for that.”

    “The Last Stylebender” also took a voluntary break after losing his middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. Initially, he jokingly suggested that he might not return to the Octagon until 2027.

    However, Adesanya is poised to challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, set to take place on August 17 in Perth, Australia.

  • Diego Lopes Highlights Two Opponents He’d Like To Face In Sphere Return After UFC 303 Win

    UFC featherweight fan favorite Diego Lopes has his sights set on two options for his expected matchup at the Sphere this September.

    Lopes’ outing at this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view event was among the biggest stories throughout International Fight Week, as he co-headlined in incredible circumstances.

    After answering a short-notice call to face Brian Ortega on the June 29 card following the original co-main event falling through, the Mexican-based Brazilian stepped up once again when “T-City” couldn’t make the featherweight limit last Friday morning.

    On fight day, however, Lopes found himself back on the scales, this time to weigh in for a 165-pound catchweight contest against Dan Ige. That came about after Ortega was struck by illness hours before UFC 303.

    Lopes ultimately emerged victorious over his late-notice replacement opponent, grinding out a unanimous decision victory across three rounds of action inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

    Pre-fight, Lopes had already announced his intention to make the turnaround to fight at the Sphere in September. And having gone above and beyond last week, it would appear that the UFC is unsurprisingly set to grant that wish…

    Lopes Calls For Rescheduled Ortega Fight Or Volkanovski Clash At The Sphere

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaXTQaGJF9s

    During a backstage media scrum at T-Mobile Arena, Lopes reflected on his tumultuous fight week and victorious performance at UFC 303 while in conversation with reporters.

    Responding to a question regarding his next fight from Caroline Pearce of TNT Sports, the Mexican-based Brazilian reiterated his plan to make the walk inside the Sphere for Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

    And the surging featherweight also had a couple of opponents in mind…

    “I would really love to fight on the Sphere (card). If you think about this, it’s such a special day, Mexican Independence Day weekend. I live in Mexico. It would be amazing to fight,” Lopes said. “They could just basically reschedule the fight against Ortega, I’d love that.

    “If that’s not available, I’d love to have a fight against Alexander Volkanovski. I think that would be a great fight as well,” Lopes continued. “I think we need to sit down with the UFC and check what the plans are, but I think it should be somebody in the top five that I should be fighting with.”

    When quizzed on the possibility of rescheduling Ortega vs. Lopes for the September 14 event during his post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White noted that the promotion needs to gauge “T-City’s” availability and plans.

    Volkanovski, meanwhile, has been taking a break from competition ever since losing the featherweight title in violent fashion against Ilia Topuria in February.

    While he’s been firm in stating that the gold will be on the line in his comeback fight, perhaps the allure of the Sphere could tempt the Australian to do battle with one of the division’s fastest-rising names.

  • Alexander Volkanovski Open To Dustin Poirier Fight At Lightweight After His UFC 302 Title Loss

    Alexander Volkanovski Open To Dustin Poirier Fight At Lightweight After His UFC 302 Title Loss

    Heading into UFC 302, Dustin Poirier claimed that if he did not walk out of the Octagon as UFC lightweight champion, he could leave his gloves in the middle of the cage and walk away from the sport.

    Poirier lost to Islam Makhachev in the card’s main event, and while he didn’t retire, “The Diamond” suggested that competing “just to fight” may not be enough to convince him to come back.

    One man, however, seems to think a fight with him may hold the key to convince Poirier to not wrap up his career yet — Alexander Volkanovski.

    In a new video on his YouTube channel, the former UFC featherweight champion suggested that a fight with him at lightweight may pose a new challenge for Poirier that could convince him to go at least another bout.

    “He thinks he might be retiring, not sure — maybe, just maybe, depending on what I’m doing…obviously I want to fight later in the year…I don’t want to wait too long either…if the timing works, maybe me and Dustin can maybe have a good fight,” Volkanovski said.

    Alexander Volkanovski Thinks Him vs. Dustin Poirier Will Be A ‘Massive’ Fight

    Volkanovski has lost three of his last four fights. In 2023, with a title defense against Yair Rodriguez sandwiched between, Volkanovski attempted twice to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC lightweight championship.

    The Australian fell short in a classic, close decision at UFC 284 in February 2023 and then, competing on about 10 days’ notice, was brutally knocked out by Makhachev at UFC 294 last October.

    Volkanovski was again viciously slept at UFC 298 this past February, dropping the 145-pound title to Ilia Topuria. The second KO loss in a four-month span prompted plenty of concern around Volkanovski competing again without a long layoff.

    “Alexander the Great” added in his video that this wouldn’t be a complete move up to 155 pounds, but rather something to challenge himself while waiting to get another crack at the featherweight championship.

    “I know he sort of just wants good, fun fights. Obviously, we have a lot of respect for each other, and I think that would be a massive fight,” Volkanovski said. “That’s something I would be willing to do while I’m waiting for that featherweight title — maybe a lightweight fight against someone like Dustin Poirier would be great.”

  • Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    Joe Rogan Outlines Mistake Alexander Volkanovski Made In Accepting Ilia Topuria Fight: ‘If I Had His Ear…’

    As Joe Rogan said on a recent episode of his podcast, Ilia Topuria didn’t need any additional inspiration to believe that he was going to become the UFC featherweight champion.

    At UFC 298, “El Matador” was crowned after he stopped the 145-pound great Alexander Volkanovski with a ruthless knockout.

    Having not been stopped since his fourth pro fight, Volkanovski has now been on the end of two decisive knockouts in his last two fights.

    The Aussie fighter was already planning to defend his title against Topuria when he got the call to step in on a few weeks notice to move up a weight class and face Islam Makhachev.

    With Charles Oliveira out, a generous offer from the UFC and the chance to earn some revenge after he was beaten by Makhachev that same year, Volkanovski knew he had to say yes.

    Joe Rogan Wishes We Could Have Seen Alexander Volkanovski Face Ilia Topuria Without Fighting At UFC 294

    Whether or not Volkanovski’s performance against Topuria was hindered by his knockout loss to Makhachev four months prior is debatable.

    On The Joe Rogan Experience, elite grappler and coach of Volkanovski, Craig Jones, spoke about this with the UFC commentator.

    Rogan believes that the knockout and quick turnaround undoubtedly affected Volkanovski at UFC 298.

    “This is a short amount of time and then everything kind of falls apart and I think it wouldn’t have fallen apart if not for the rematch. If it wasn’t for the rematch, if he just waited for Topuria, I got to think that head kick has a factor. I mean to get brained like that with a shin to the dome, which is the worst way to get knocked out, it’s so much power in legs.”

    Rogan went on to say that he would have tried to talk Volkanovski out of taking the fight so that he could face Topuria in the best shape possible.

    “It’s so tricky cuz I’m just such a huge Volk fan that I just wish I had his ear. I don’t know if he would have listened to me but if I had his ear…”        

    Read also: ‘It’s Over For The Diamond’ – Fans React As Islam Makhachev Reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Return To His Corner At UFC 302

  • UFC Full Fight: Relive Islam Makhachev’s Head Kick Knockout In Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302 Defense

    UFC Full Fight: Relive Islam Makhachev’s Head Kick Knockout In Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Ahead Of UFC 302 Defense

    UFC 302 headliner Islam Makhachev made a statement when he last appeared inside the Octagon.

    The UFC lightweight champion will feature in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card in Newark, New Jersey, where he’s tasked with recording a third successful title retention at the expense of divisional veteran Dustin Poirier.

    Following his crowning against Charles Oliveira back in 2022, Makhachev put the belt on the line against the same foe twice in 2023, repelling the threat of then-featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski.

    Their first clash in Perth, Australia, was a tight affair, with many even believing “Alexander the Great” did enough to deserve two-division glory. There was no debate, however, when it came to their rematch.

    Following the late withdrawal of Oliveira, Volkanovski stepped up on a few days’ notice and headed to Abu Dhabi to do battle with Makhachev again at UFC 294 last October.

    The champ closed out proceedings in the first round, flooring the Aussie with a vicious head kick before swarming with an onslaught of ground-and-pound for the knockout finish.

    Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Makhachev vs. Volkanovski rematch from UFC 294 on its official YouTube channel.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDyyJigsccc

    The Russian will be looking to deliver a similarly impactful performance when he takes to the cage inside the Prudential Center this weekend.

    If he achieves that feat, Makhachev will have gotten past the first challenge to his reign to come from an established contender at 155 pounds. And from there, the likes of Arman Tsarukyan will be waiting in the wings.

  • Alexander Volkanovski: Let’s See If Ilia Topuria Can Handle The ‘Real Volkanovski’ In Rematch

    According to Alexander Volkanovski, UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria is yet to defeat the “real” version of “Alexander the Great” inside the Octagon.

    Topuria brought Volkanovski’s lengthy and dominant reign on the 145-pound throne to an end at the UFC 298 pay-per-view in Anaheim this past February, knocking the Australian out in round two.

    Given that Volkanovski suffered a similar fate just four months prior at the hands of Islam Makhachev, many put the violent loss to “El Matador” down to the quick turnaround that the now-former champ committed to.

    While he’s avoided making any excuses, the 35-year-old has noted his intention to take a longer break before returning to action. And with that, “Alexander the Great” says Topuria can expect to face the “real” Volkanovski second time around…

    Volkanovski Excited To Give Topuria ‘Real’ Test

    During a recent interview with The AllStar, Volkanovski reiterated his insistence that a title challenge will await him upon his return to the Octagon toward the end of 2024.

    Should that come to fruition, “Alexander the Great” has no doubt that things will play out much differently than they did in California earlier this year.

    “Not taking anything away because Ilia’s a great fighter, but let’s see — ’cause the next Volkanovski is gonna turn up, the real Volkanovski,” the Australian said. “Let’s see if Ilia can handle it.

    “Again, I’m not taking anything away from him and not saying he can’t. He’s obviously got heavy hands, obviously got good skill,” Volkanovski continued. “But I want him to be tested against the best version of myself.”

    For now, Topuria’s focus appears to be elsewhere. Having dismissed claims he turned down a rematch with Volkanovski for Perth this August, the Georgian-Spaniard has been going back and forth with Max Holloway.

    Given his demands for the Hawaiian’s BMF belt to also be on the line, the date and stipulations for that potential title fight remain to be seen. Latest reports, however, suggest it is in the works for UFC 306 at the Sphere this September.

    By the sound of things, Volkanovski will be waiting in the wings for the winner.

  • Volkanovski Admits Regret Over “Silly” Tweet About Holloway’s Injury

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has looked back on his response to Max Holloway’s injury and subsequent recovery, describing his remarks as “silly.”

    After securing a decision victory over Yair Rodriguez in a FOTY contender last November, a win that secured his second headlining triumph of 2021, Holloway appeared set for a third crack at adding the opening blemish to Volkanovski’s UFC record, a feat he’d failed to manage in 2019 and 2020.

    In January, it was announced the pair would headline UFC 272 this month. But after agitating a previous injury, “Blessed” was forced to withdraw, paving the way for “The Korean Zombie” to step in for the Australian’s next defense, which was moved to UFC 273 in April.

    But after making a fast recovery, Holloway was reportedly keen to serve as backup for the April 9 pay-per-view main event, something that clearly agitated the 145-pound champ, who took to Twitter to accuse his rival of faking the injury.

    After many came out in support of Holloway, suggesting the former titleholder would never create an excuse to pull out, Volkanovski has now admitted his tweet was out of line.

    Volkanovski Walks Back Holloway Accusations

    During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Volkanovski was asked whether he’d received any more information about Holloway’s apparent willingness to be the backup fighter for UFC 273.

    In his response, “The Great” took the opportunity to address his previous remark. Volkanovski admitted he let his frustration and confusion get the better of him, something he says he’s been working to avoid moving forward.

    “I didn’t get clarification (on Holloway’s willingness to be backup for UFC 273). Obviously, I heard about it, and obviously, it was frustrating,” said Volkanovski. “At the time, you know, I really wanted that fight. So once he got injured after they’d already announced it early, it was all a little bit confusing and frustrating. So you’ve seen my frustration. I wanted to tweet and get that—have a little shot at Max and his fans. But that was the only reason, which was pretty silly on my behalf, to be honest. That just shows you where my head was at back then. That’s something that I’ve really been working on lately.

    Alexander Volkanovski Max Holloway
    Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway (Image Credit: Louis Grasse/PxImages & Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

    “I bring that up just purely because, as you could see, it obviously, things that I’d say—I don’t know if he (Holloway) even asked for that (backup slot), let’s be real,” added Volkanovski. “That could’ve just been, I think it was Brett Okamoto who put it out there? I was like, ‘What, how is this gonna work? As if we’re gonna have out trilogy on a late-replacement.’ So I was a little frustrated. But for me to even let it get to me, and we don’t even know the real story behind it, it just shows me how much I was diving into the wrong sh*t, if that makes sense? I felt like I had to say something about it when I didn’t even know if it was true.”

    With Holloway seemingly ready to go in April and beyond, it stands to reason the victor of next month’s PPV main event will be standing opposite the Hawaiian in the Octagon soon after.

    If Volkanovski manages to secure his third title defense and 21st consecutive MMA victory in Jacksonville next month, the much-awaited trilogy should be a go.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkanovski? Were his comments directed to Max Holloway unnecessary?