Alexander Volkanovski is at a funny stage of his UFC career.

‘The Great’ remains a top contender at featherweight, even though he got brutally knocked out by Ilia Topuria in February and has lost three of his past four fights.

Topruia ended Volkanovski’s long reign in brutal fashionGetty

It appears he will be allowed to sit on the sidelines before facing the winner of Topuria’s first title defence against Max Holloway, which will take place at UFC 308 on October 26.

However, Volkanovski is keen to return to the Octagon as soon as possible.

The 35-year-old recently revealed the type of fight he is looking for.

“Right now, it’s like title fights, exciting fights, and maybe short notice fights,” Volkanovski told Submission Radio.

“That’s the things that excite me… Doing a contender fight in the featherweight division, you know, that doesn’t really get me out of bed. I’d be lying if I said that.

“It would have to be a belt on the line or something like that to get me excited. And obviously the Conor McGregor fight is very exciting.

“So that’s definitely something that I would do.”

McGregor made his name at featherweight and is considered among the four greatest 145lb fighters of all time.

Volkanovski is also on that elite list, and he has established himself at the top by beating the division’s inaugural champion Jose Aldo, and Holloway, who he has outdone three times.

The Australian fighter would love to face McGregor as it would give him the opportunity to say he’s beaten all of the featherweight champions that came before him.

Volkanovski wants to get his belt backGetty

But he also likes the idea of welcoming McGergor back to MMAGetty

Volkanovski said he’d rather face ‘Notorious’ next and would choose to have that fight before chasing revenge in a title rematch with Topuria.

“That’s a tricky one,” he added when asked to choose between potential fights with McGregor and Topuria. “I mean, obviously, I want that match back with Ilia.

“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 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.”

McGregor is currently looking for an opponent for his comeback fight.

A clash with Michael Chandler was first booked in February 2023, but after several delays ‘Iron Mike’ has decided to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on November 16 instead.

It’s still hoped that he will welcome McGregor back from his three-year layoff in 2025, even though UFC Dana White insists the Irishman’s return opponent hasn’t been decided yet.

Volkanovski is certainly an exciting option and UFC fans would be keen to see him square off with McGregor.