Alexander Volkanovski wants to become a two-division UFC champion – and he’s halfway there.
Volkanovski (24-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC) defends his featherweight title against Max Holloway in the July 2 co-main event at UFC 276 – a highly anticipated rubber match. Volkanovski looks to go 3-0 against Holloway. Should he notch his fourth title defense, Volkanovski wants to move up to 155 pounds and go after a second UFC title.
“Yeah, that’s why I’ve talked about this third fight with Max being a big one,” Volkanovski said Tuesday at a UFC news conference. “After this one, I go do my thing. It’s gonna give me time to go at least have a chance to go for that double-champ status. That’s what I want. I’m gonna do what I plan on doing and that’s what I’m gonna call for.”
The UFC lightweight title is currently vacant, but it’s ex-champ Charles Oliveira (33-8 MMA, 21-8 UFC) who has dominated the division since Khabib Nurmagomedov retired. Oliveira was stripped of his title when he missed weight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 in May. Despite the pre-fight drama, he choked out “The Highlight” in Round 1.
Now, Oliveira will challenge for the lightweight title in his next outing. If Volkanovski gets to fight him, he likes his chances. He’s seen Oliveira need to come from behind in multiple wins.
“When I look at Oliveira, (he’s a) dangerous fighter,” Volkanovski said. “Dangerous fighter, a lot of people love watching him fight, exciting fights. But obviously, he showed that he can be beat. He showed that in his last few. Even if they were exciting, he was almost beat in every one of those times. The thing is with me, I ain’t gonna give him them opportunities. If I land big on someone, they ain’t gonna get the opportunity to land big on me.”
