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Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

  • Sonnen: Volkanovski Validated McGregor’s Return To The Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen has suggested reigning UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has validated an immediate return to title contention for Conor McGregor.

    McGregor hasn’t been in action since suffering a brutal leg break at UFC 264 last July. The injury, which resulted in a TKO loss, marked his second defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2021 and his third setback in four appearances.

    Despite that, as the Irishman edges closer towards a much-anticipated return, it’s appearing more and more likely that we may see the former two-division UFC champion competing for gold in his first fight back.

    That discussion picked up when UFC President Dana White slammed those criticizing the idea of a McGregor title shot and announced the promotion’s intention to re-book the Islam Makhachev vs. Beneil Dariush bout. According to many, including Joe Rogan, that announcement has left the door open for the Dublin native to return to the championship picture later this year.

    In a recent exclusive interview with MMA News, 145-pound king Volkanovski discussed McGregor, labeling him a dream opponent, not only due to his stardom and the money involved but for his quest to best every former featherweight champ.

    “Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, (José) Aldo, Max (Holloway), and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.”

    While at first glance, the remarks perhaps appear harmless and to simply be a casual comment on a dream matchup, former middleweight and light heavyweight UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has suggested Volkanovski’s words could mean a lot in the context of McGregor’s return.

    Sonnen Suggests Volkanovski Co-Signed A McGregor Title Shot

    In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Volkanovski’s comments. He claimed that the Australian had, whether by intention or not, provided validation for a potential McGregor title shot.

    “There is an ongoing conversation of should Conor McGregor be able to return off of a loss, off of a previous loss, off of an injury, and fight for a world championship,” said Sonnen. “There seems to be a very meaningful discussion, which got supported when Islam Makhachev got re-booked against Dariush.

    “Many people are pushing back on it, saying Conor should not be able to come off a loss into a world championship fight… It doesn’t sound like Volkanovski agrees with you,” noted Sonnen. “Volkanovski, whether he meant to or not, just gave validation, as a sitting champion of the world, that Conor McGregor can, in fact, come right back into a world title fight.”

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)

    Sonnen did, however, acknowledge Volkanovski’s words came from his own desire to meet McGregor, which, at featherweight at least, is unlikely. Nevertheless, the 44-year-old claimed that the Aussie’s quote, given his place at the champions’ table, means something, regardless of which title conversation McGregor is in.

    “Volkanovski, of course, was personalizing and talking about him(self), and I don’t think Conor’s gonna be making featherweight any time soon,” admitted Sonnen. “But set that aside, you now have a world champion, whether he intended to or not, that just co-signed the statement that Conor McGregor qualifies for a world title fight upon his return. One world champion, one sitting and reigning world champion, has got to speak for how many of us? What’s his opinion worth? He’s got skin in the game. He’s got credibility.

    “You’ve now got somebody with a seat at the head table, who is saying that Conor should qualify based on his laurels, based on the success that he has had before. I don’t disagree with that, I don’t disagree with that at all,” Sonnen concluded.

    Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Did Alexander Volkanovski’s comments validate a title shot for Conor McGregor?

  • Volkanovski On “Bullsh*t” Velasquez Arrest: “He’s Paying A Crazy Price”

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski believes the recently incarcerated Cain Velasquez is “paying a crazy price” following his arrest.

    While fights continue each weekend, trash talk flies, and signings and extensions hit the headlines, one story has gripped the entire MMA and combat sport community in recent weeks.

    Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight titleholder and widely-respected mixed martial artist, was arrested on February 28 for attempted, premeditated murder. The arrest and charge came after Velasquez allegedly pursued and intended on shooting a man named Henry Goularte, who’s accused of molesting one of Velasquez’s young relatives.

    After reportedly shooting and injuring the man’s stepfather, Velasquez was arrested, charged, and later denied bail by Judge Shelyna Brown, much to the fury of his attorney and supporters.

    In recent days and weeks, a host of fighters, pundits and personalities have flocked to support the former UFC star. Per ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, the likes of Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Scott Coker, Kamaru Usman, and Brandon Moreno have all penned letters of support for Velasquez to the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

    Now, the UFC’s 145-pound kingpin has given his thoughts on the tragic incident. Like many, Volkanovski has highlighted what he perceives to be an injustice.

    Volkanovski: Velasquez Case Shows The Law Can Be Pretty Messed Up

    During an exclusive interview with MMA News, Volkanovski, who holds gold in the promotion Velasquez twice ruled in, suggested the Californian is paying a “crazy” price for his actions, something that he believes shows a clear double standard in how these cases are handled.

    “Yeah, it is unfortunate. You see some people doing shit like that and they almost get (just) a slap on the wrist,” Volkanovski said during his conversation with James Lynch. “And then you see someone like that, who in the heat of the moment, you can see the emotions that would’ve been involved in something like that.

    “Then he’s gonna be paying a crazy price, when these other guys get a slap on the wrist, which is just complete bullshit. Obviously, someone’s not gonna be thinking completely straight when some shit like that happens.”

    While a host of names have spoken out against Velasquez’s detainment, perhaps the most prominent was the UFC President. Describing the incident as “horrible,” White claimed Velasquez simply did what everyone, especially parents, says they would in that situation.

    According to Volkanovski, a father himself, White’s take was exactly right.

    “This hits close to home. Anyone with a kid is gonna know. I think Dana hit the nail on the head,” Volkanovski further told MMA News. “He did exactly what everyone says that they would do if they were in that situation. That’s true. It’s ridiculous. Obviously, laws are laws, but, I mean, some things need to come into play.

    “You can’t treat this as just a crazy act of madness. Let’s be real. He would’ve been emotionally unstable in that situation. That has to come into play, especially when your kid is involved… I’m hoping he doesn’t get in too much trouble for it. I don’t know. The law can be pretty messed up sometimes,” concluded Volkanovski.

    If found guilty of the charges, Velasquez is facing 20 years in prison. His next court date is April 12, per court records.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkanovski’s take on the arrest and imprisonment of Cain Velasquez?

  • Volkanovski On Dream McGregor Clash: “I’d Fight Him At Any Weight”

    UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is eying a matchup with Conor McGregor before he eventually calls it quits.

    Volkanovski is set to make his next featherweight title defense against Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’) in the upcoming UFC 273 headliner. He’s coming off of a largely dominant win over Brian Ortega at UFC 266.

    Volkanovski was supposed to face Max Holloway next before Holloway pulled out with an injury. Jung is the next man up, but a fight with McGregor remains on the 145-pound champion’s mind.

    In an exclusive interview with MMA News’ James Lynch, Volkanovski spoke about what the effect would be of a McGregor fight for his legacy.

    “Obviously, Conor’s always gonna get his name out there,” Volkanovski said. “You’ve gotta remember, he was a featherweight, he was a champion of my division. So, I’ve taken out the featherweight champs, so to take out, the only one left, isn’t he? Yeah, it’s just Conor. There was me, Aldo, Max, and Conor. So it makes a lot of sense. Obviously, it would be a dream. And then I’ve taken out all the other champs in my division. So that would be incredible.

    Conor McGregor
    Conor McGregor (Photo: Sportsfile)

    “You talk about the payday and the circus around it would be great, but at the same time, when you talk about legacy that’s definitely—and he’s undefeated at featherweight, too. So that’d mean something.”

    McGregor hasn’t competed at featherweight since he won the unified title over José Aldo at UFC 194. He went on to fight at welterweight and lightweight, eventually earning the 155-pound title over Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205.

    Volkanovski fought at welterweight and lightweight to begin his professional career on the Australian regional scene, but a majority of his career has been at featherweight. Volkanovski went on to allude to the flexibility when it comes to the weight class that a McGregor fight would be competed at.

    “I don’t think he’s making featherweight anytime soon [LAUGHS]. Obviously, with that fight, you’d do it at any weight. I’d do that at welterweight if I had to, whatever. We’ll see. I’ll just worry about Zombie, cause Zombie’s in front of me, and we’ll see. You might get some drunk tweets from Conor again and maybe we can ride off that, see what happens from there… 100% I would (fight McGregor at welterweight). I’d fight him at any weight.”

    Volkanovski earned the featherweight title over Holloway at UFC 245, before winning a controversial split decision in an immediate rematch at UFC 251. He’s arguably one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history and continues to climb the ranks in the all-time great discussion.

    McGregor is targeting a return to the Octagon later this year after a nasty leg break at UFC 264. It’s unclear what weight McGregor will fight at for his return, but a fight with Volkanovski may not be out of the cards as soon as this year.

    You can view MMA News’ full interview with Alexander Volkanovski below!

    Do you think we’ll ever see Alexander Volkanovski vs. Conor McGregor?

  • Volkanovski On Future Hooker Fight: If We Need To Do It, We’ll Do It

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has discussed City Kickboxing teammate Dan Hooker’s return to featherweight and the prospect of facing him down the line.

    Volkanovski has ruled over the 145-pound weight class since dethroning Max Holloway in late 2019. In defending his title twice, first in a rematch with “Blessed” and then in a grudge match with Brian Ortega, the Australian has extended his win streak in professional MMA to 20 and his unblemished UFC record to 10-0.

    While there remain a number of challenges for “The Great” to see off, including upcoming opponent “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung, Volkanovski will soon see a new name enter the shark tank at featherweight.

    After a struggle for form at lightweight, Hooker, who, like Volkanovski, fights under the City Kickboxing banner, will be returning to 145 pounds this weekend. Soon after his transition down a class became public knowledge, “The Hangman” gave his thoughts on a potential meeting with teammate Volkanovski, suggesting they’d cross that bridge when they get to it.

    Now, in an exclusive interview with MMA News, the champion has shared a similar sentiment to Hooker’s.

    He claimed that if necessary, the pair would throw down inside the cage, an admission that’s rare in this day and age, with the likes of Gilbert Burns and Vicente Luque, and Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya shutting the door on the possibility of facing each other due to personal relationships.

    “It doesn’t really cross your mind until people ask you about it, really. At the same time, this is a sport,” Volkanovski told MMA News’ James Lynch. “You can’t expect these guys not to be in your division. Now he’s chose that division and he thinks that’s the best decision for his career, and I support that.

    “Whatever happens, if further down the track we need to do it, then we’ll do it, you know. That’s just how it is. That’s fine. That’s all good. I wish nothing but the best for him and I’m sure he wishes nothing but the best for me. So, if our paths do cross, we’ll worry about that then,” concluded Volkanovski.

    Hooker’s First Step To Contention Takes Place This Weekend

    After a test weight cut appeared to confirm his departure from the lightweight division late last year, the announcement of a featherweight opponent hammered home Hooker’s return to 145 pounds.

    Despite his hopes to fight “The Korean Zombie” or Brian Ortega, the New Zealander has had to settle for a lesser name, but certainly not a decline in competition. In the co-main event at UFC London this weekend, Hooker will enter the cage with rising contender Arnold Allen.

    “Almighty” Allen is unbeaten at 8-0 in the UFC and has risen to #7 in the rankings following triumphs over Nik Lentz and Sodiq Yusuff in recent years. While he’ll look to further his stock with the addition of an established name to his résumé, Hooker will be targeting an immediate arrival into the title conversation.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CbFtqHPP8tP/

    Would you like to see Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker share the Octagon down the line?

  • Bryce Mitchell Willing To Be Backup For UFC 273 Main Event

    UFC featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell is ready and willing to step up on short notice if needed to fill for the UFC 273 headliner.

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski will make his next title defense against Chan Sung Jung (otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’) at UFC 273 on April 9. Mitchell recently defeated Edson Barboza in an impressive performance on the UFC 272 main card.

    Mitchell has been on a roll in the featherweight division and continues to climb up the rankings. If the UFC needs a backup plan should Volkanovski or Jung pull out, Mitchell appears ready to be on-weight if needed.

    Mitchell offered his services in a recent tweet to the UFC.

    https://twitter.com/ThugnastyMMA/status/1502816249071513603?s=20&t=ef8AbdA1-Jk7e19O6-T_kQ

    “If Volkanovski or Zombie backs out – call me [UFC],” Mitchell said.

    If Mitchell doesn’t end up being needed as a backup to UFC 273, he appears to have a ready opponent in Sodiq Yusuff. Following an impressive win over Alex Caceres at UFC Vegas 50 last weekend, Yusuff called out Mitchell for a fight between two rising featherweights.

    Mitchell has won six straight fights since his time on The Ultimate Fighter Season 27. His win over Barboza came after a nearly two-year layoff due to various health issues.

    Before his hiatus, Mitchell earned dominant wins over the likes of Charles Rosa and Andre Fili. Mitchell’s victory over Barboza proved that he’s a potential force in the featherweight division going forward.

    Volkanovski most recently defended his title against Brian Ortega at UFC 266. He was originally supposed to face former champion, Max Holloway, in a trilogy this year before Holloway pulled out with an injury.

    Mitchell has been the subject of conversation after speaking out on various political and societal issues. He also made an appearance on Fox News for an interview with commentator Tucker Carlson.

    While Mitchell appears to be enjoying the limelight of speaking his mind on various issues, he’s looking forward to his next appearance in the Octagon. If anything happens with the UFC 273 headliner, Mitchell could have his next fight booked sooner rather than later.

    Who do you want to see Bryce Mitchell fight next?

  • Korean Zombie Plans To Pick Ortega’s Brains Ahead Of Volkanovski Fight

    UFC featherweight contender Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie, plans to utilize his old rival for Alexander Volkanovski.

    Jung has been training at the growing Fight Ready gym in Arizona, alongside former UFC champions such as Jon Jones and Henry Cejudo. He has also come across Brian Ortega, a former rival of his who recently fell to Volkanovski at UFC 266.

    Jung will step up and fight Volkanovski in substitute of Max Holloway, who pulled out of UFC 273 just days after it was first announced. This will be Jung’s second title shot after falling to José Aldo at UFC 163.

    Jung plans to use all resources he can to prepare for arguably the biggest fight of his career against Volkanovski. During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jung hinted at working with Ortega in the lead up to his fight with Volkanovski.

    “I’d love to pick his brain a little bit,” Jung said. “I know he went back to California yesterday, so I’m looking for him to come back so we can talk about it a little more.”

    Jung earned the next title shot after winning three of his last four fights in the Octagon. He most recently put on a dominant performance against Dan Ige last June after falling to Ortega in a lopsided defeat.

    Volkanovski earned the title over Holloway at UFC 245 before defending it against him at UFC 251. The rematch was controversial, and some believe Holloway deserved to get the win on the scorecards.

    Regardless, Jung will get the next featherweight title shot and an opportunity to become the first Korean-born UFC champion. He’ll look to shock the world at UFC 273, with potentially the help of his former adversary Ortega.

    What is your prediction for The Korean Zombie vs. Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Volkanovski Explains Why Korean Zombie Fight Is Personal

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski feels his upcoming fight against the “Korean Zombie” is personal.

    Alexander Volkanovski will defend his featherweight title against Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273 on Apr. 9 at the Vystar Veteran Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. While Volkanovski feels disappointed that UFC replaced Holloway due to injury, he looks forward to settling his feud with Jung.

    Alexander Volkanovski Discusses Upcoming Chan Sung Jung Fight

    Volkanovski appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani recently to discuss his upcoming bout against Jung. Jung had previously called Volkanovski’s title reign “shameful” after his split-decision win over Halloway at UFC 251 on July 11, 2020 and believed he could beat the champion without needing the judges. The featherweight titleholder later responded to Jung’s remarks. (h/t MMA Fighting).

    “Of course. It is,” Volkanovski replied when asked if the matchup is personal. “There was a time where he, I guess, decided to play the heel or his manager, or someone did anyway. And he was there calling us out and saying some things. So yeah, there is a bit of history there. You’ve got to remember, that was before—that’s why he was fighting for that No. 1 contender when Brian [Ortega] and him fought, so it shows you that he was close to that title shot, but it didn’t go his way, so that’s why I fought Brian.

    “Now, he went back and did what he had to do. And he’s lucky—obviously, if Max didn’t pull out, none of these guys would be getting the opportunity maybe. We don’t know, but that’s what happened. So I want to fight, and the UFC wanted us to still fight, so we all agreed that Zombie was the guy to do it with. Again, there is a bit of history. He’s an OG of the division. So let’s make that happen.”

    Jung became a top contender after he won his previous fight against Dan Ige on Jun. 19, 2021, and has won three out of his last four contests.

    Volkanovski is undefeated in the UFC and has won 20 fights in a row. Volkanovski’s win streak also includes his most recent title defense against Brian Ortega at UFC 266.

    The UFC may not have initially wanted Volkanovski vs. Jung, but the champion’s animosity could help make the fight intriguing to promote.

    What do you think about Alexander Volkanovski’s comments?

  • Korean Zombie: Max Holloway’s Recovery “Doesn’t Make Sense”

    UFC featherweight contender “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung has questioned Max Holloway’s fast recovery from injury, which has seen the former champion pursue backup status for UFC 273.

    In the pay-per-view’s main event, reigning 145-pound king Alexander Volkanovski will hope to successfully defend his gold for the third time. In his way of doing so will be a UFC veteran renowned for his exciting style and thrilling performances throughout over a decade in the promotion.

    Volkanovski was initially slated to share the Octagon with Holloway, who’d earned another shot at reclaiming the belt with 2021 victories over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez, for a third time at next month’s UFC 272 event.

    When “Blessed” withdrew after aggravating a previous injury, the hunt for a replacement was on. Despite the pitches from Giga Chikadze, Henry Cejudo, Josh Emmett, and Rodriguez, it was “The Korean Zombie” who was granted the chance to dethrone “The Great” Volkanovski at the April 9 event.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    Despite withdrawing from his scheduled trilogy bout with Volkanovski, it was recently revealed that Holloway has returned to training and is even open to serving as a backup fighter for the UFC 273 headliner.

    Korean Zombie Joins The Sceptical Side

    While Volkanovski made his feelings about the fast recovery crystal clear in a post on Twitter, accusing his rival of faking an injury in order to avoid a potential third defeat to the Aussie, others, including former opponent Kattar, have suggested it’s wrong to question Holloway’s withdrawal.

    Now, with opinion largely split, the new next challenger for the featherweight strap has given his take on the latest revelations. During an interview with The Schmo, “The Korean Zombie” suggested Holloway’s ability to make the UFC 273 event “doesn’t make sense.”

    Nevertheless, Jung claimed that while he won’t be pulling out himself, he’s open to an interim title clash with “Blessed” should Volkanovski be forced out of the PPV for whatever reason.

    “It doesn’t make sense that he’s gonna be ready to go in a month,” Jung said via Coach Eddie Cha. “It’s pretty crazy. (I) won’t be getting injured. (I’ll) be making April 9th. So, if Volkanovski gets injured, (I’m) down to fight Holloway.”

    If Holloway is not required on April 9, it’s likely the UFC 273 main event victor will be standing opposite him in the cage later this year for what will either be Volkanovski’s third clash with “Blessed” and fourth title defense, or Zombie’s first defense and first meeting with Holloway.

    What do you make of Alexander Volkanovski and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung’s comments about Max Holloway’s fast recovery?

  • Calvin Kattar: It’s Crazy To Question Holloway For Volk Trilogy Withdrawal

    UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar has given his take on champion Alexander Volkanovski accusing Max Holloway of faking an injury to avoid their trilogy fight.

    Last month it was announced that Holloway, coming off a pair of memorable victories over Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 2021, would be the next challenger to Volkanovski’s 145-pound reign. Since the Australian dethroned “Blessed” in December 2020 and subsequently defended the belt against him six months later, he’s retained the belt with a five-round win against Brian Ortega.

    But just days after the trilogy was announced, it was off. Holloway withdrew after aggravating a previous injury. In his place, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung stepped up, and Volkanovski’s first appearance of 2022 got pushed back a month to UFC 273.

    But in a surprising turn of events, ESPN recently reported that Holloway was back in training and eager to serve as a backup option for the April pay-per-view main event.

    After hearing the news, the champion took to Twitter to accuse his rival of faking an injury in order to avoid another loss to him. Prior to the booking and recent revelations, “The Great” had already suggested Holloway may look to avoid a third clash with him because another defeat would be damaging to the former titleholder’s legacy.

    Kattar: Holloway Doesn’t Dodge Anybody

    While others have also questioned the quick development from withdrawal to full training, #5-ranked featherweight contender Kattar believes it is “crazy” to suggest Holloway would dodge an opponent.

    During a media scrum at UFC 271 this past weekend, “The Boston Finisher” was asked for his take on the matter. Having felt Holloway’s toughness first hand last January, Kattar doesn’t believe Holloway would fake an injury or avoid a fight, especially considering his willingness to face the returning Rodriguez last November.

    “I’m not reading too much into it. I mean, as a fight fan, that would’ve been a good matchup, watching him and the champ go back at it, third time running it, especially after the last two,” Kattar said. “As far as what got him ready (to be backup) and whatnot, I’m not reading too far into that.

    “I feel like to question Max, man, it’s kind of crazy. He took the Yair fight when he didn’t really need to,” Kattar continued. “He was next in line for the champ anyway, but he took it. The champ and Max, I think, are two guys that don’t really dodge anybody and wanna fight the best guys in the world, so I got a lot of respect for them.”

    With Holloway’s recovery and availability for April, it stands to reason “Blessed” will get another chance to reclaim the 145-pound gold later this year. But for now, it’s the turn of UFC veteran “The Korean Zombie.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    Do you agree with Calvin Kattar’s take on Max Holloway’s withdrawal and recovery?

  • Volkanovski Accuses Holloway Of Faking Injury, Rejects Backup Fight

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has sent an emphatic response to rival Max Holloway’s request to be backup for the UFC 273 title fight.

    Volkanovski and Holloway were set to collide for a trilogy clash at UFC 272 on March 5. However, mere days after news of the matchup broke, “Blessed” was forced to withdraw after aggravating a previous injury. That led to a search for a new championship challenger and the announcement of a new date for the Australian’s next defense – UFC 273 on April 9.

    Late last week, ESPN revealed Holloway had been cleared to return to training and was open to serving as a backup fighter for the UFC 273 main event. It’s fair to say that development hasn’t thrilled the reigning titleholder.

    Taking to Twitter, Volkanovski lambasted Holloway, accusing him of faking his injury. He ended the rant by seemingly declining the Hawaiian’s backup request.

    “@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight. so in other words…he was never injured. Just hoping he doesn’t have to fight me or fight me while I’m preparing for someone…but hey ‘if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying’…NO”

    Volkanovski and Holloway have already shared the Octagon twice. At UFC 245 in December 2019, “The Great” dethroned “Blessed” via unanimous decision, securing his place on the featherweight throne as an undefeated UFC fighter. Seven months later, the pair met for the second time at UFC 251 on Fight Island. In an even tighter contest, it was Volkanovski who fell on the right side of a split decision.

    Despite acknowledging that Holloway’s five-round victories over Calvin Kattar and Yair Rodriguez in 2021 certainly cemented the 30-year-old as the #1 contender, Volkanovski previously suggested Holloway may be keen to avoid a trilogy fight in order to prevent his legacy from being damaged by a third defeat to the Aussie.

    Holloway’s injury and subsequent recovery have clearly fueled that hypothesis in the mind of the featherweight king.

    Volkanovski Has His Sights Set On The Zombie

    After the Holloway scrap fell through, the UFC and Volkanovski were certainly not short on potential replacement opponents. From Giga Chikadze and Yair Rodriguez to Josh Emmett and Henry Cejudo, a heap of names wanted a shot at the 33-year-old’s belt.

    The man chosen, however, is a fan-favorite divisional veteran who has thrilled UFC fans since his debut in 2011. At UFC 273, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung will have his second chance at reaching the top of the featherweight food chain.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZnhjU5tQNd/

    While it stands to reason the victor will face the challenge of Holloway later in the year, Volkanovski is clearly skeptical of that happening if he has his hand raised on April 9.

    Who do you think will leave UFC 273 with featherweight gold, Alexander Volkanovski or “The Korean Zombie?”

  • Volkanovski: If I Was Going To Fight Cejudo, It Would’ve Been At UFC 273

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is hinting that a potential matchup against Henry Cejudo might’ve already come and gone.

    Volkanovski is slated to face Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as “The Korean Zombie” at UFC 273. Volkanovski was originally supposed to face Max Holloway in a trilogy next before Holloway suffered an injury shortly after the booking was announced.

    One of the first names that put themselves in the conversation to step up and fight Volkanovski was Henry Cejudo. He has long hinted at a UFC comeback to challenge for the featherweight title and the chance to become a three-division world champion.

    The two have gone back-and-forth in a series of interviews and social media posts, but a fight between them hasn’t materialized. UFC President Dana White has been non-committal regarding a potential superfight between Volkanovski and Cejudo.

    During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Volkanovski gave his thoughts on a clash with Cejudo.

    “I don’t even mind the guy,” Volkanovski said. “Obviously, we have a bit of fun and he’s always trying to troll me and get under my skin and make that fight happen.

    “Again, I get people who are going to say I’m running and whatnot. The UFC never brought up his name, ever. And it was never mentioned to me, it was never even close to an option. How am I going to take it seriously if the UFC doesn’t take it seriously? And I don’t even know if Henry is really taking it serious. But man, I like the guy. He’s got great skills. You’ve you’ve done great things in other divisions. And you retired, so it just doesn’t make sense.

    “If there was ever a time that I was going to do it, it probably would be now,” Volkanovski added. “But again, the UFC weren’t going to bring it up. They’re thinking that what’s the point? You don’t deserve it. And then what if you do somehow get it done — you’re just going to retire and [drop the belt again]? Even though I heard Henry say, ‘Oh, if I do that, I’ll stay,’ I don’t think they believe that. But you wouldn’t have had to worry about that anyway.”

    White has been critical of how Cejudo and his management have handled their desire for a fight with Volkanovski. Cejudo announced his retirement from MMA following his bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249.

    Holloway has been cleared to resume training following his injury and could serve as the backup to UFC 273. While nothing is certain regarding the featherweight title picture, Holloway will more than likely get the Volkanovski/Korean Zombie winner next.

    Meanwhile, it appears that the Volkanovski vs. Cejudo window for a fight has been closed, at least for now.

    What is your prediction for a hypothetical fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Henry Cejudo?

  • Volkanovski: Chikadze Wouldn’t Have Deserved Title Fight With Kattar Win

    Despite their recent social media banter, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski didn’t even consider Giga Chikadze a potential next opponent.

    Chikadze fell to Calvin Kattar at UFC Vegas 46 via unanimous decision and left the Octagon bloodied and battered by Kattar’s boxing. He had won nine straight fights entering the bout.

    Volkanovski was supposed to face Max Holloway for his next title defense before Holloway pulled out due to an injury. Chikadze had been one of the first featherweight contenders who threw his name into the conversation after news broke of Holloway’s withdrawal.

    Volkanovski and the UFC opted to give Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, the next title shot as a replacement. This irked Chikadze and created quite the tension between him and the champion.

    During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Volkanovski revealed whether or not he would’ve considered facing Chikadze next if he got the better of Kattar.

    “Mate, to be honest, when he was carrying (I thought) not only does he have to win to even start talking, you know, let’s try and get out of that fight unscathed before you even ask, but then, I still don’t think he’d deserve it,” Volkanovski said. “Remember, he’s ranked #8. He was ranked #8 and he was fighting #5… He’s so surprised that I’m fighting Zombie; these guys (contenders for the title shot) are ranked higher than him, (and) were gonna be ranked higher than him even if he won. It just doesn’t make sense. Yeah you’ve got a winning streak, but let’s fight some contenders, let’s fight some top guys, and you did and look what happened.”

    In the buildup to UFC Vegas 46, Chikadze blasted Volkanovski as a “chump” and alluded to losing respect for the 145-pound champion. After his loss to Kattar, he’ll likely need to go on another winning streak to get back into the featherweight title discussion.

    If Volkanovski beats Jung, the UFC will more than likely attempt to book the Holloway trilogy again. For now, it appears that Chikadze is a long way off from getting a title shot against Volkanovski.

    Do you think we’ll ever see Alexander Volkanovski vs. Giga Chikadze?

  • Dana White Now Open To Cejudo vs. Volkanovski Superfight

    UFC President Dana White might be interested in a fight between Henry Cejudo and Alexander Volkanovski, that is if it can happen.

    White mentioned the fight during a live Q&A session on Wednesday. This came when he was asked by a viewer about “superfights” he would be open to making in 2022. Along with a fight between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, he mentioned a series of matchups that would see retired Cejudo face champions.

    “Well, we just had Henry Cejudo talking about coming back. If he really wants to come back, there’s a process that he has to go through, which includes getting back in the USADA pool. And if that’s really the fight he wants, he wants to come back and fight either Petr Yan, or Aljamain Sterling, whoever is the champion, or something crazy like jumping up a weight class and really taking on Alexander Volkanovski,” said White. “But right here off the top of my head, as far as superfights go, Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou, the only other one that comes to mind would be Cejudo (versus) either Yan, Sterling, or Volkanovski.”

    Cejudo Has Proposed Fight Against Volkanovski Before

    Alexander Volkanovski, Henry Cejudo
    Alexander Volkanovski (Image: Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty), Henry Cejudo (Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    Cejudo got the public’s attention earlier this month when he was vocal about wanting to face Volkanovski. This came due to Max Holloway being forced out of a fight against Volkanovski that was set for later this year. He has also called for this fight multiple times in the past. However, UFC eventually landed on The Korean Zombie as the next featherweight title challenger.

    Cejudo has been retired for over a year now. He departed the sport in 2020 after defending his bantamweight belt, stopping Dominick Cruz in the second round of a fight.

    Cejudo has given himself the nickname “Triple C” in recent years. This is because he has a belt at flyweight and bantamweight in the UFC and also earned a gold medal for freestyle wrestling at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Should he ever find himself in a featherweight title fight, he might have to change his nickname.

    Would you be interested in a fight between Henry Cejudo and Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Volkanovski Still Hopeful Of Australia Defense Despite Djokovic Drama

    Despite the drama surrounding Novak Djokovic’s inability to play at this year’s Australian Open, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is still hoping to defend his title in his home country soon.

    Djokovic’s back and forth situation in Australia has been one of the biggest sports stories of 2022 so far. While the country requires individuals to be vaccinated prior to arriving, the tennis star traveled to the Oceanic nation believing he had a medical exemption that would allow him to play at the Australian Open without being vaccinated against COVID-19.

    The saga, which lasted over a week, has seen Djokovic denied the chance to defend his title and deported. The decision came despite a last-ditch appeal that the Serb’s camp hoped would reverse the visa cancelation struck on him by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

    Djokovic was initially granted a medical exemption to enter the country by two independent health panels after he tested positive for the virus in December, although it was later revealed he hadn’t observed self-isolation rules after contracting COVID-19.

    After Djokovic left Australia for Dubai at the weekend, the lengthy period of uncertainty was brought to an end but has left fans of the tennis star unhappy and the Australian government under scrutiny by some and supported by others.

    But despite the evident strict rules and guidelines for entering Australia, the country’s UFC champion doesn’t believe it’ll stop him from defending his gold in front of a home crowd soon.

    Discussing the globally-covered tennis drama during a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Volkanovski suggested Djokovic’s situation is a prime example of why the UFC hasn’t tried to organize a card in the country.

    Nevertheless, the New South Wales native expects the current rules and strictness surrounding the virus to die down in the coming months, paving the way for him to throw down in the Octagon with Australian cheers around him.

    “Obviously, I care. But I mean, we’re just in this situation just right now. I feel like that’s gonna change. I think things will move on. I’m still hopeful, obviously, of defending my belt, and I’m hoping that’s the one after this one (UFC 273) that we can do it. I think it’s gonna happen, I really do.

    “But yeah, (Djokovic) was a big story. I didn’t look too much into it but it was everywhere. But, that’s why, obviously, the UFC aren’t bringing it here. There’s a lot of hurdles to cross, so I think just time is what we need with all that.”

    Alexander Volkanovski
    USA Today Sports

    While he hopes for a home fight soon, Volkanovski will have to make do with the United States for his next outing.

    After Max Holloway was forced to withdraw from the pair’s scheduled trilogy clash for UFC 272 in March, the Aussie’s search for a new opponent landed him at the feet of featherweight veteran “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. The pair are expected to collide at UFC 273 in April.

    While the location is yet to be made official, Volkanovski’s next defense is expected to go down at the VyStar Veterans’ Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

    Do you think Alexander Volkanovski could still defend the UFC title in Australia in 2022 despite the result of Novak Djokovic’s situation?

  • Volkanovski: You Duck Zabit, Get Suspended, Lose & Want A Title Shot?

    UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has slammed top-five contender Yair Rodríguez for calling for a title shot despite his inactivity and recent defeat.

    Volkanovski was initially set to share the Octagon with Max Holloway for the third time. After dethroning “Blessed” in 2019 and immediately defending the title against him seven months later, “The Great” set the score at 2-0 in his rivalry against the 145-pound GOAT contender.

    After Holloway rebounded with mightily-impressive victories over Calvin Kattar and Rodríguez in 2021, he earned a chance at redemption and a third shot at adding the first blemish to Volkanovski’s record. However, just days after the fight was announced for UFC 272, Holloway was forced to withdraw after aggravating a previous injury.

    Following the news, it didn’t take long for a host of fighters to throw their names into the hat to replace the Hawaiian. Among them were former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo, Giga Chikadze, and Josh Emmett.

    Despite returning to the UFC after a lengthy layoff last November and falling to defeat Holloway, Rodríguez also called out the champ, and he did so in a particularly hostile manner.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYcvBcYJzHG/?utm_source=ig_embed

    “Do I really need to raise my hand @danawhite ? Heal up quick champ @blessedmma @alexvolkanovski I had respect for you before, but now, fuck you! You little bitch you know I’m next”

    Volkanovski: Yair Callout “Blows Me Away”

    Volkanovski’s mindset and attitude as featherweight king have always been clear to see: whoever is the best, the top contender, and deserving of a title shot, will get a title shot. Judging by that criteria, it’s understandable why the Australian was surprised at Rodríguez ‘s callout, especially the aggressive nature of it.

    During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Volkanovski listed all the reasons why the Mexican was never going to get the shot, including his 2020 USADA suspension, his failed matchups with Zabit Magomedsharipov, and his recent loss to Holloway.

    “One thing that surprises me and what annoys me, is the way he (Rodríguez) acted about it as if it was a no-brainer that he should be the next in line,” said Volkanovski. “And then starts carrying on and swearing and saying, ‘I had respect and fuck you,’ and all that. Are you serious? Let’s remember, let me bring you back, let’s be real for a second. Over two years you were pretty much running from Zabit? I didn’t wanna bring that up but you put me here. So, you’re running from Zabit, pulling out, you’re getting suspended from USADA, you’re being a diva and the UFC had so much hassle with you. It was a bunch of chaos.

    “The UFC ain’t gonna take that’s serious. And then, let’s remember, he just lost. I don’t get it, I really don’t get it. You haven’t fought for how long, then you’re coming off a loss, and then you get angry at me because I don’t sit there and call you out.”

    Rodríguez initially rejected a fight with Zabit in 2018, which led to his release, albeit a brief three-week one. The pair were then scheduled to clash multiple times, with “El Pantera” pulling out due to injuries.

    Shortly after his UFC Vegas 8 bout with the Russian fell through, Rodríguez was handed a six-month suspension for failing to notify USADA of his whereabouts and being unavailable for testing. After eventually returning at UFC Vegas 42 a couple of months ago, the Mexican fell on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict against Holloway.

    Given all those factors, Volkanovski is baffled by Rodríguez ‘s callout. He encouraged the #3-ranked contender to say it to his face if his remarks were truly how he feels and not just an attempt to hype up the matchup.

    “It just blows me away. The way that some of these people (act),” added Volkanovski. “I don’t mind the guy. Whether he just thought that was his way of getting the title shot, maybe, I don’t know. But if he’s being real… Mate, if you’re gonna carry on like that, say it to my face. Or was it just trying to get the shot and build a bit of hype, I don’t know. But if that’s really what you feel about it, bring that same energy person as well. I didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the one who didn’t fight for over two years and who is coming off a loss.”

    With Rodríguez and a host of other names failing to secure a shot at Volkanovski’s title, the champion now appears set to defend his gold against divisional veteran “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273 in April.

    Do you agree with Alexander Volkanovski? Was Yair Rodríguez wrong for calling the champ out like he did?

  • Giga Chikadze: Alexander Volkanovski Is The Easiest Fight In The Top 10

    UFC featherweight Giga Chikadze believes Alexander Volkanovski would be an easier opponent for him than any other contender in the division’s top 10.

    When Max Holloway withdrew from his scheduled trilogy clash with the reigning 145-pound king at UFC 272, Chikadze was one of the first to throw his name into the hat as the replacement. That’s despite the fact he has top-five contender Calvin Kattar lined up for what is his biggest UFC fight to date this weekend.

    After dispatching Edson Barboza with ease last August, “Ninja” has his chance to rise closer to contention in the UFC Vegas 46 headliner on Saturday night. But Chikadze, along with many in the MMA community, believes a victory should bring more than a rank rise. They think it should take the Georgian all the way to Volkanovski.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYjjPSutSif/

    Chikadze Isn’t Impressed By Volkanovski

    Like the other fighters willing to challenge the Australian, including Yair Rodríguez and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, Chikadze has seemingly been snubbed in favor of #4-ranked featherweight “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. That’s despite the fact Chikadze boasts a seven-fight UFC win streak and has the chance to add the established name of Kattar to his record on January 15.

    After the champ made his desire to face fan-favorite brawler Korean Zombie known, the UFC has seemingly moved his next defense back to UFC 273 and added Jung to the contest, per Ariel Helwani.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, Chikadze reacted to Zombie becoming the frontrunner for the replacement opportunity. According to the in-form Georgian, Volkanovski is avoiding him because he knows “Ninja” is the biggest threat to his reign.

    In contrast, Chikadze sees Volkanovski as the easiest opponent for him inside the featherweight top 10.

    “100% (Zombie fight) is easier. It’s (an) easier task for them, for Volkanovski,” said Chikadze. “I’ve been fighting these type of guys all my life and making my life with that. He knows that I’m, for him, the hardest and strongest fight. That’s why he’s trying to avoid me. I understand he wants to stay safe and make money and this, but I’m here to become the champion.

    “Honestly, for me, I think that’s the easiest fight in the top 10, bro. This guy cannot even reach me. When we stand together, what’s he gonna do? Some guys have a good submission (game), some guys have a good punch or a good technique, what does he have against me? Nothing.”

    Unfortunately for Chikadze and his fans, it appears the UFC has moved forward with plans for Volkanovski vs. Korean Zombie. Nevertheless, if the Tbilisi native puts in an impressive performance this weekend and perhaps becomes the first man to finish Kattar in the UFC, he’ll be a hard man to deny when it comes to the next shot at gold.

    Do you think Giga Chikadze deserves a title shot over The Korean Zombie?

  • Giga Chikadze Says He’s Lost Respect For Volkanovski For “Cheap Move”

    UFC featherweight contender Giga Chikadze is no longer a fan of Alexander Volkanovski after recent tensions between the two top 145 pounders.

    Chikadze had called for the next title shot against Volkanovski after the champion’s original UFC 272 opponent, Max Holloway, pulled out with an injury. Volkanovski and the UFC opted to go with Chan Sung Jung, otherwise known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, as a replacement.

    Chikadze volunteered to make a quick turnaround from his upcoming fight to fill in against Volkanovski, but the UFC had other plans.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chikadze was asked about whether or not he had lost respect for Volkanovski.

    “Absolutely, yeah,” Chikadze said. “Before that, I kind of messaged him after his last fight, I congratulated him,” said Chikadze. “Brother, this (Volkanovski’s response to me on Twitter) is a cheap move for me to see. He messages me, he tweeted that I’m fighting a top five or something, and like, I lost a lot of respect for him. And plus, bro, I’m not here for respect and all this stuff. No friends for me. These guys, I’m here to take over everybody, smash, you know, I don’t need extra friends here. I feel like these people are trying to take my dreams, so I’m gonna fight them.”

    Giga Chikadze Could Be On The Verge Of A Bout With Volkanovski

    Chikadze will face Calvin Kattar in a second straight main event at UFC Vegas 46 this weekend. In his last fight, he put on a dominant performance over Edson Barboza and ended up earning TKO victory.

    Chikadze has long been considered by many to be the dark horse of the featherweight division. After losing out on a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, he’s won nine fights in a row over the likes of Cub Swanson, Omar Morales, and Barboza. For these reasons, Dana White allegedly told Chikadze that he’s close to earning the next shot. Another impressive win over Kattar is the first step to making that happen.

    How do you think a Giga Chikadze vs. Alexander Volkanovski fight would play out?

  • Coach Shares Advantage That Could Lead To Zombie Beating Volkanovski

    Fight Ready striking coach Eddie Cha has revealed the stylistic advantage he believes could give “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung the edge if he challenges Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight title.

    Mere days ago, the promotion’s plans for March’s UFC 272 were revealed. Completing a blockbuster trilogy, Volkanovski looked set to defend his belt against Max Holloway, who has impressed in two main event wins since his back-to-back losses against the Australian.

    But after aggravating a previous injury, news broke that “Blessed” had been forced to withdraw from the contest. We want to say that fight joy has never been provided and taken away so drastically and quickly, but for UFC fans, especially during the pandemic, this is nothing new.

    It didn’t take long for a number of featherweight contenders to throw their names in the hat to replace Holloway. As well as top-10 145lbers Yair Rodriguez and Giga Chikadze, former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo once again staked his claim for the chance to win a third divisional gold in the promotion.

    However, per Ariel Helwani, the man set to take centre stage with “The Great” Volkanovski at UFC 273 in April is The Korean Zombie. The fan favorite rebounded from his title eliminator loss to Brian Ortega with a main event win against Dan Ige last year. He’ll now look to reach the mountaintop at the second time of trying.

    With Zombie’s replacement opportunity all but officially confirmed, the 34-year-old’s coach Eddie Cha spoke exclusively to MMA News. As well as discussing the latest developments in the featherweight title picture, Cha spoke about a possible Cejudo return, Deiveson Figueiredo’s preparation ahead of UFC 270, and Zhang Weili’s expected return to the Fight Ready gym.

    Cha: Zombie Has A Great Chance Of Beating Volkanovski

    While some see Zombie as the correct replacement for Holloway, many in the MMA community have claimed Chikadze should be thrust to the title should he defeat Calvin Kattar in this weekend’s main event. However, with the Georgian sat at #8 in the rankings, compared to Zombie’s #4 spot, and the South Korean’s 3-1 record since 2018, it’s hard to brand the veteran as undeserving.

    Along the same lines, many expect the likes of Chikadze and Rodriguez to pose a greater threat to Volkanovski than Zombie. But one man who’s consistently worked with the 34-year-old in the gym and throughout his career believes he may shock the world when he enters the Octagon with the Aussie titleholder.

    Naming his height advantage and prior success against shorter fighters as evidence, which includes knockouts of Frankie Edgar and Dennis Bermudez, Cha told MMA News’ James Lynch that Zombie has a “great chance” of taking the title from Volkanovski.

    “I think Volkanovski is an unbelievable champion. I think he’s been underestimated the last few fights. But now, he’s not. Everybody knows how good he is. But, as far as stylistically, Zombie does so well against shorter fighters. I really kinda like this fight; I think anybody does when it comes to a title shot, but I really think he has a great chance of winning that fight.”

    With Glover Teixeira dethroning Jan Blachowicz last October and Julianna Peña shocking the world by submitting Amanda Nunes in December, 2021 had its fair share of upsets. If Cha and The Korean Zombie have their way, the name Chan Sung Jung will be on the Upset of the Year nominee list at the end of 2022.

    Do you think The Korean Zombie has what it takes to dethrone Alexander Volkanovski?

  • Calvin Kattar Explains Why He Hasn’t Tried To Replace Holloway At UFC 272

    Calvin Kattar was one of the few featherweights who did not put his name in the hat to replace Max Holloway to fight Alexander Volkanovski for the belt.

    Volkanovski was supposed to defend his belt in a trilogy match against Holloway at UFC 272 in March. Unfortunately, the Hawaiian was forced out of the bout. After that, several featherweights like Giga Chikadze, Korean Zombie, Josh Emmett, and Yair Rodríguez all called for the fight.

    For Kattar, however, he didn’t see a reason to call for the fight, especially when he has a scrap coming up.

    “Yeah, man, talk is cheap,” Kattar said on BetQL Tapped Out. “I’m trying to go out next week and earn it…Him throwing his name in the hat, it’d be a shame if I went out and ruined his plans, you know?”

    Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway
    Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    Kattar is set to headline UFC Vegas 46 this Saturday against Giga Chikadze in a battle of top-10 featherweights. The winner could very well be in title contention, and that is all Kattar is focused on, not trying to call out the champ for a bout in March.

    “All I know is a W gets me that much closer,” Kattar said. “You only get closer off wins. And some of these guys calling for the title shot off losses, it doesn’t really make sense to me. Yeah, it happens every now and then, but go out and win some shit and then talk.”

    Calvin Kattar is currently ranked fifth at featherweight and is coming off a beatdown loss to Max Holloway in January last year. The loss dropped him to 22-5 as a pro and he’s 6-3 in the UFC with wins over Shane Burgos, Dan Ige, Jeremy Stephens, Andre Fili, and Ricardo Lamas among others.

    Do you think Calvin Kattar will beat Giga Chikadze in the main event of UFC Vegas 46?

  • Korean Zombie Set To Challenge Alex Volkanovski At UFC 273

    The Korean Zombie has been selected to replace Max Holloway as UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski’s next title defense.

    Shortly after news broke that Holloway was out of his UFC 272 fight against Volkanovski, people started to wonder what will be next for the champion. Many names were suggested for Volkanovski, with Chan Sung Jung, better known as The Korean Zombie, being one of them.

    Now, according to MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, the bout is a “done deal” to take place on the April 9th pay-per-view. It was also revealed that Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan II will take place on this same card.

    This is a fight that the champion himself pushed for after Holloway withdrew from the bout.

    “Let’s do this!! #UFC272” Volkanovski tweeted last week.

    Zombie Coming Off Recent Main Event Win

    Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas of USA TODAY Sports

    Volkanovsk’s canceled defense against Holloway would have been a trilogy fight. His second fight against Holloway came in 2020 and saw him defend his belt for the first time in split-decision fashion.

    Volkanovski has since defended his belt again, going five rounds against Brian Ortega for a scorecard victory.

    The Korean Zombie made a clear push towards a title fight in 2019, attaining first-round wins over Renato Moicano and Frankie Edgar. That momentum was later stopped by Ortega, who beat him in the main event of a show in 2020.

    Zombie has since bounced back with a big win, beating Dan Ige via unanimous decision in June 2021.

    Who do you think will win this featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and The Korean Zombie?

  • Cejudo: Volkanovski vs. Ortega Is The Greatest Fight In MMA History

    Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo believes the UFC 266 main event between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega is the “greatest fight” in MMA history.

    At the start of one of the most memorable sets of final pay-per-views a year has seen in the UFC, reigning featherweight titleholder Volkanovski met with top contender Ortega in the September 25 headliner. The pair were originally set to clash at UFC 260 six months prior, but a positive COVID-19 test forced the Australian out.

    In the end, the pair coached the 2021 return of The Ultimate Fighter. Whilst it certainly wasn’t the most thrilling season of the show, it did add an extra pinch of animosity and helped build the matchup more heading into their eventual showdown at UFC 266.

    When they did enter the Octagon together, they brought a firework display that is certainly worthy of a spot in the Hall of Fame Fight Wing. Across five rounds, we saw why Volkanovski is unbeaten in the UFC and in his past 20 fights. After five rounds, he successfully defended his title for the second time through a unanimous decision verdict.

    But even in defeat, we saw why “T-City” has a spot among the elite at 145 pounds, with two tight submission attempts in the third round providing one of the most memorable frames in history.

    Cejudo Believes Volkanovski vs. Ortega Had Everything

    In the eyes of many, the UFC 266 main event was certainly a top contender for the Fight of the Year, in the conversation with the likes of Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 268, Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 42, and Jiří Procházka vs. Dominick Reyes at UFC Vegas 25.

    But while many didn’t have Volkanovski’s one and only defense of 2021 in their top spot for the year, one former UFC champion had it there and more. Cejudo, who held both flyweight and bantamweight gold simultaneously during his UFC career, believes the memorable September five-rounder was not only the FOTY, but the greatest fight in the history of mixed martial arts.

    “The one I really like the most, I’m going to have to go to with Alexander ‘The Average’ (Volkanovski) and Brian Ortega,” Cejudo said on his podcast with The Schmo. “That isn’t, to me in my eyes, the Fight of the Year, but this is the greatest fight in my eyes in mixed martial arts history. It displayed striking, defense, escaping from submissions, takedowns, takedown defense, I mean, it was everywhere.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYXgZgqpeu3/

    Having extended his win streak and featherweight reign with victory over Ortega, Volkanovski is now in need of a next challenger after Max Holloway had to withdraw from their UFC 272 bout.

    As fate would have it, Cejudo, who has been lobbying to fight Volkanovski for several months, has thrown his name into the ring as a potential short-notice replacement. If selected, maybe Cejudo will be the one on the other end of an all-time classic against Volkanovski.

    Do you agree with Henry Cejudo? Is Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega the greatest fight in MMA history?

  • Holloway Out of UFC 272 Trilogy Against Volkanovski Due To Injury

    The third meeting between UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway will have to wait after Holloway was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.

    The new matchup was a chance for Holloway to regain the 145-pound belt and avenge the two previous losses he took to Volkanovski in recent years. ESPN broke the news Friday about Holloway’s withdrawal. There is currently no timetable set for his return.

    The two featherweights first met in late 2019. Volkanovski went five rounds with Holloway in that fight to walk away with a unanimous decision win. The fight was re-booked for just seven months later, giving Holloway an opportunity to even his score with Volkanovski.

    Volkanovski pulled off the win in that meeting as well—albeit in a closer split-decision outcome.

    Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway
    Calvin Kattar & Max Holloway (Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

    Holloway has worked his way towards another title opportunity since then, fighting in two UFC main event bouts. He kicked off his 2021 with a dominant striking performance against Calvin Kattar. Later in the year, he fought in a more competitive five-round battle against Yair Rodriguez for another decision win.

    Volkanovski defended his belt for the second time in September, defeating Brian Ortega in a hard 25-minute scrap. The result not only continued Volkanovski’s reign as champ but marked his 10th consecutive win since joining the UFC in 2016.

    MMA News will keep you posted on if this trilogy fight is rebooked or if Volkanovski draws another opponent for the UFC 272 event.

  • The Pulse of MMA: Fans React To Volkanovski vs. Holloway III Booked

    The Pulse of MMA: Fan Reactions To The Sport’s Biggest Stories

    In this installment of The Pulse of MMA, we look at the raw, unfiltered reactions from MMA fans to the booking of Alex Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway III.

    Alex Volkanovski vs. Max Holloway Trilogy Set For UFC 272

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

    Yesterday, we learned that Alex Volkanovski will be tasked with beating Max Holloway for the third time when the two meet at UFC 272.

    The first time Volkanovski defeated Holloway was in 2019 at UFC 245. Volkanovski was able to win a relatively comfortable decision to capture the featherweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada, three years ago.

    The rematch, however, would come with quite a bit of controversy, with many (arguably most) scoring the UFC 251 rematch in favor of the former champ, Max Holloway. Nevertheless, as they say, there are only three opinions that matter, and those were swayed in the direction of the Australian.

    Since that loss, Holloway has earned another crack at Volkanovski with back-to-back Fight of the Night-winning victories, first over Calvin Kattar followed by a win over Yair Rodríguez.

    So what did The Pulse of MMA have to say after this trilogy bout was announced? Find out down below!

    https://twitter.com/insanelyvain/status/1478880525297270784
    https://twitter.com/insanelyvain/status/1478880525297270784
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  • Hooker On FW Move: We’ll Cross Volkanovski Bridge When We Get To It

    Dan Hooker has spoken about the prospect of moving down to a featherweight division currently ruled by teammate Alexander Volkanovski.

    Hooker, who began his UFC career at 145 pounds, has seen the initial success he achieved after moving up to lightweight stall. Having followed a 3-3 featherweight stint with a 7-1 start at 155 pounds, which saw “The Hangman” add the names of Gilbert Burns, Al Iaquinta, Paul Felder, and James Vick to his résumé, Hooker’s pursuit for gold hit a roadblock at the top five.

    Since a main event victory in his home country last February, Hooker has seen Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Islam Makhachev have their hands raised at his expense. In an effort to revitalize his career, the 31-year-old looks set to return to his old stomping ground in 2022.

    https://twitter.com/danthehangman/status/1462956932486946820

    Hooker Not Fazed By Joining Division Ruled By Teammate

    The UFC featherweight throne is currently occupied by Volkanovski, a City Kickboxing teammate of Hooker. “The Great” successfully ascended the weight classes’ mountaintop with a victory over Max Holloway in 2019, a feat he repeated in his first title defense seven months later.

    Having now brushed aside the challenge of Brian Ortega, Volkanovski, who is riding a 20-fight winning streak, has staked his claim as one of the most dominant active champions in the promotion.

    In a recent interview with It’s Time For Sports, Hooker was asked about the possibility of meeting his friend and teammate inside the Octagon if he commits to a featherweight switch. After stating they’d “cross that bridge” when they arrive at it, “The Hangman” suggested having multiple members of the team high up in a division is not a bad scenario.

    “It’s like, cross that bridge when it comes to it. That is the same as like, Brad (Riddell) in my division at lightweight. It’s never a bad position to be in. To have your training partners or your group of friends so good at fighting that you might, potentially, have to fight each other to be the best fighter in the world. That’s not the worst situation. But it’s like, I want Volk to win as well and I see him being super successful as well.”

    With the ever-changing scope of each division, Hooker also mentioned that his path may never cross with that of Volkanovski, who he predicts will go onto big things in the next few years.

    “The landscape of something can change so quickly in this sport. Over the next year you could see Volk doing some incredible things. You could see Volk moving up to lightweight and being a double champ, and then, you know, fighting Conor McGregor and walking away with $20 million or something crazy. That’s what I see for Volk. You can’t beat me. I want him to win as well, I want Brad to win as well, I want my teammates to be successful as well. It’s not like I want to be successful at their expense. I want to be successful but I want to see them do some incredible things as well.”

    Before reaching the stage where he enters contention, Hooker will first have to establish himself at 145 pounds and record some wins. In what would be a pretty tough first assignment, “The Hangman” recently revealed a clash with “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung would be at the top of his list of desired fights.

    Whoever he ends up facing, there are certainly some exciting matchups for Hooker, with the likes of Calvin Kattar, Giga Chikadze, and Shane Burgos all awaiting him at featherweight.

    Would you like to see teammates Dan Hooker and Alexander Volkanovski collide at featherweight?