Alexander Volkanovski serious about stepping in for UFC 300 headliner, Ilia Topuria fires back

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Alexander Volkanovski is happy to offer his services for UFC 300 if he gets past Ilia Topuria.

Featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) will look to notch his sixth title defense against unbeaten Topuria (14-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 298 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Volkanovski, who stepped in on short notice to save the UFC 294 headliner this past October against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, is still willing to assume that role if the promotion is struggling to find a main event for UFC 300 on April 13.

“I plan on doing work this weekend, and I don’t know if they found something for UFC 300. Maybe I can go and save the show there as well,” Volkanovski said during Thursday’s UFC 298 pre-fight press conference. “I ain’t lying about that. … This old man’s got a lot of dog left in him.”

Topuria, who predicted a first-round knockout, was quick to let Volkanovski know that he literally won’t let him do that.

“At UFC 300, you’re going to still be in the hospital,” Topuria responded. “Be recovering. Trust me.”

Volkanovski wasn’t successful when stepping in against Makhachev at UFC 294, losing their rematch by first-round knockout. “The Great” hasn’t given up on his lightweight title hopes, and says a quick turnaround for UFC 300 would have to be at 155 pounds anyway.

“I’m more than happy to fight in the UFC 300 main event,” Volkanovski told Sports Illustrated. “It wouldn’t be a featherweight fight. It would have to be a lightweight opponent, and I’d be more than happy to take that on.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 298.