Alexander Volkanovksi has ‘guaranteed’ that his next fight in the UFC will be for a title.
The Australian also confirmed he will do ‘whatever it takes’ to fight at UFC 312 Sydney in February, which was announced this week.
Volkanovski is a former UFC featherweight championGetty
Volkanovski said he will face either Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway for the featherweight belt, or fight for interim status against Diego Lopes.
Topuria defends his featherweight belt against Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 on October 26 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
‘The Great’ dropped the featherweight title to Topuria at UFC 298 in February when he was knocked out after two rounds.
This came after Volkanovski attempted to become a two-division UFC champion in consecutive lightweight bouts against Islam Makhachev.
Although the Australia native came within inches of beating Makhachev at the first time of asking – losing by a unanimous decision after five rounds in February 2023 – he was brutally knocked out in the rematch eight months later.
Speaking to Submission Radio, ‘The Great’ discussed his UFC future.
He said: “Fighting for the title, that is what is pretty much promised to me and February looks like the perfect date.
“I will be facing the winner out of Ilia [Topuria] and Max [Holloway] – quite positively I can guarantee that.
“That’s [UFC 308] going to be an incredible event, incredible flight. The moment that I had last time I fought in Australia was one I want to remember and I plan on doing the same in February.”
Volkanovski was knocked out by Topuria at UFC 298Getty
Volkanovski defended his featherweight belt against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290, which was sandwiched between his Makhachev bouts, but lost it for the first time to Topuria.
It will be the first-ever title defence for the Spaniard, who made his UFC debut in 2020.
Holloway, meanwhile, is a former UFC featherweight champion and one of Dana White’s greatest-ever fighters.
He hasn’t fought for UFC gold since a trilogy of bouts against Volkanovski between 2019 and 2022 when he lost all three by decision.
“I’m gonna do whatever it takes to make sure I am on that card, I’ll be entertaining in Sydney February, 100 per cent,” Volkanovski added.
“So whether it is for the title, interim, lightweight title, I don’t care what it is. If for some reason I can’t get a fight I’ll entertain on the DJ decks or something, I’ll find a way to do it.
“I’ll be there front and centre hopefully fighting and getting my belt back but yeah really looking forward to it.”
Topuria is ready to defend his UFC featherweight title against HollowayGetty
‘The Great’ also offered some predictions for the main event clash between Topuria and Holloway in Abu Dhabi.
Volkanovski said Holloway will come out on top at UFC 308, as he has proved himself ‘time and time again’, adding that the pair may have to run it back for the fourth time.
No.3 ranked middleweight Robert Whittaker challenges Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 308, while England’s Lerone Murphy faces Dan Ige.
Whittaker told talkSPORT exclusively that he aims to take Chimaev’s head off in their five-round bout in Abu Dhabi.
UK fans don’t have to stay up late for the main event card, as live coverage starts from 5pm in Abu Dhabi. You can watch the event live on TNT Sports Box Office on Sunday, October 26.
