Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski wants to be known as the greatest 145-pound fighter of all time, which requires some distance between “The Great” and past champions like Jose Aldo and Max Holloway.
The latter of whom looks more dangerous than he’s ever been.
“People are talking about his last fight and that just proves he’s still in his prime,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “Whether people like it or not, I’m 2-0 against him in his prime. So that just shows you what level I am. The guys that I’ve been able to beat – even Aldo, he was on a tear. He had his loses, but he was coming back and was taking out all the No. 1 contenders. People thought, ‘Here he is, three-round Aldo. No one can beat him,’ and I went there and shut him down.”
Volkanovski captured the crown with a unanimous decision victory over Holloway at UFC 245 then defended the belt in their UFC 251 rematch. That said, not everyone believes the Aussie did enough to take home the strap, including UFC President Dana White.
“Give me a fight or two and people are going to really realize,” Volkanovski continued. “I understand the defenses that Aldo has and you need defenses, you need to take out guys and take out the No. 1 contenders to solidify yourself as the GOAT. I understand that. But I’m in a pretty good position. Taking out the guys that I have, how well-respected them guys were, and taking them out, that definitely shows I’m right there. So again, nothing but respect to everyone, but I’m taking that GOAT status and it’s not going be too long until people realize that.”
Volkanovski (22-1) will have to put his GOAT talk on the back burner for the time being, as the resurgent Brian Ortega will be waiting for him in the UFC 260 pay-per-view (PPV) co-main event next month in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For much more on that championship showdown click here.