LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Alexander Volkanovski still views top-ranked Featherweight contender, Ilia Topuria, as light work.
Last night (Sat., July 8, 2023) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Volkanovski defended his Featherweight title as he put on an absolute clinic at UFC 290, dismantling Yair Rodriguez and finishing the Mexican standout in the third round via technical knockout (watch highlights).
After his latest stoppage win, Volkanovski revealed to Joe Rogan that he needs shoulder surgery, but then during UFC 290’s post-fight press conference (watch here), he downplayed the upcoming procedure and claimed he’ll be back as soon as possible.
“I mean, I didn’t mean to scare everyone with that,” Volkanovski told reporters. “When I say I’m going to do that, it’s not a big deal. I’ll be back in ASAP. It will be a quick one — just need to get something sorted. But, I’ll be training a lot.”
With his domination of Rodriguez, the question soon became, who is next?
Volkanovski obviously wants to run it back with Islam Makhachev to try and become a “champ-champ.” Still, he knows there is another surging Featherweight contender dubbed “El Matador” who wants his 145-pound title shot.
Volkanovski isn’t shying away from a matchup with Topuria; in fact, he sees it as an easy payday.
“It’s funny with this one. You want to talk up your opponents, right?” Volkanovski told reporters. “I mean, he’s going talk his s—t. I can say whatever I want to, you know, people don’t have to believe it, but … maybe I shouldn’t say how easy I think that fight is going to be.
“Because then people might not be interested, but he’s going to talk his s—t, and people are going to want to see me punch him in the face, so it don’t matter,” Volkanovski continued. “But, I look at that [fight] as again, no disrespect to the bloke, but the s—t he is doing ain’t going to work on me, and hopefully, you’ll get to see that soon.”
Volkanovski and Topuria faced off as the champion left the cage last night and “The Great” thought his potential opponent would be … a little taller?
Volkanovski exchanges words with Ilia Topuria after our #UFC290 main event! pic.twitter.com/JNmoRJlm8c
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
Topuria is coming off a five-round beat down of Josh Emmett at UFC Jacksonville that secured him a date with Volkanovski at some point later this year or early next.
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