Tag: alexander volkanovski

UFC 309: Volkanovski Jokes That He Nearly Offered To Fight Amid Injury Rumor

About a week ago, some fake rumors started to circulate online that one of the big match-ups at UFC 309 could be at risk. Any claims that Charles Oliveira had suffered an injury ahead of his co-main event clash with Michael Chandler on November 16 were cleared up before fight week had begun for the […]

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About a week ago, some fake rumors started to circulate online that one of the big match-ups at UFC 309 could be at risk. Any claims that Charles Oliveira had suffered an injury ahead of his co-main event clash with Michael Chandler on November 16 were cleared up before fight week had begun for the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

Chandler was even asked about this during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show where he stated that he wasn’t sure where the rumor started. For some fans, they may have assumed this to be true after seeing fighters like Renato Moicano posting on social media to say that they would be willing to step in on short notice.

“Do Bronx” has had two notable fights either cancelled or postponed in recent times with the most significant one being his rematch with Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 last year. The former lightweight champion suffered a cut above his eye less than two weeks out from the fight and the match-up wasn’t booked again once Oliveira was back in fighting shape.

Instead, the featherweight champion at the time, Alexander Volkanovski, stepped in to his place for a rematch with Makhachev that didn’t go his way. It’s become a consistent joke on social media ever since last October that whenever a fighter pulls out, Volkanovski is waiting by the phone with his gloves and luggage already in hand.

In his recent breakdown of the fights on his YouTube channel, “The Great” joked that after he heard the rumors that Oliveira was injured, he would offer to replace him once again.

“I did see things popping up where Charles was out maybe they needed a replacement, it must have just been okay that’s why you can never believe what you see on the internet. I almost put my hand up, almost, but I didn’t but yeah. Probably because we knew that wasn’t the case. If the UFC called, you never know right.”    

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Volkanovski: Jon Jones Not A ‘Proper Double Champ’ Until He Fights Tom Aspinall

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Jon Jones’ stint on the heavyweight throne will mean much if he continues to avoid facing Tom Aspinall. Jones secured the heavyweight crown in his divisional debut last year, running through Ciryl Gane in quick time to achieve glory in a second weight class. But his detractors […]

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Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Jon Jones’ stint on the heavyweight throne will mean much if he continues to avoid facing Tom Aspinall.

Jones secured the heavyweight crown in his divisional debut last year, running through Ciryl Gane in quick time to achieve glory in a second weight class. But his detractors haven’t been short on ammunition when it comes to dismissing his status as kingpin.

While that started with claims he avoided a showdown with Francis Ngannou following “The Predator’s” rise to the top in 2021, the Rochester native is now being accused of ‘ducking’ Aspinall.

The Brit earned the interim title last November after Jones’ planned first defense against Stipe Miocic fell through on late notice due to an injury to the champ. A year later, “Bones” is choosing to keep his sights on the returning veteran instead of his interim counterpart.

That decision has been a prominent topic in the lead-up to Jones vs. Miocic this weekend at UFC 309, and among the latest to fall on the side of Aspinall in the debate is “Alexander the Great.”

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski gave his assessment of the heavyweight title picture, commenting on Jones’ recent claim that he’ll likely only fight beyond Saturday’s event if it was against light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

The Australian was firm in analyzing the damage that continuing to avoid Aspinall will do for Jones, insisting that he can’t be seen as the best heavyweight or a two-division champ unless he unifies the title.

“I’m sure Jon Jones is sick of hearing this, but the Tom Aspinall fight is the fight everyone wants to see,” Volkanovski said. “You want to be heavyweight champion? You want to claim that crown? It’s going to be hard to convince me you’re a defending champ if you don’t fight Tom Aspinall while he’s interim champ.

“He’s already got an incredible legacy. But if you want to claim the heavyweight division, say you’re a proper double champ…you’ve got to fight Tom Aspinall,” Volkanovski continued. “If you really want that on your résumé, ‘I was the best heavyweight while I was there,’ you have to fight Tom Aspinall. He is definitely the biggest threat. … I can see why he’s pointing to that (Pereira), but give away the heavyweight belt then.”

Aspinall himself has taken issue with some of Jones’ comments during UFC 309 fight week, posting his highlight reel inside the Octagon on social media in response to the all-time great questioning what he’s done on MMA’s biggest stage.

There’s also a chance of the pair running into each other in the coming days, with Aspinall currently in New York City to weigh in as backup fighter for the Nov. 16 main event.

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Volkanovski’s Coach: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Have ‘The Right’ To Go For Second Title Yet

The coach of Alexander Volkanovski believes UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t yet earned a chance to add the lightweight belt to his collection. Topuria has risen to the 145-pound mountaintop in brutal fashion this year, first knocking out Volkanovski to capture the crown at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February. Eight months later, […]

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The coach of Alexander Volkanovski believes UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria hasn’t yet earned a chance to add the lightweight belt to his collection.

Topuria has risen to the 145-pound mountaintop in brutal fashion this year, first knocking out Volkanovski to capture the crown at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.

Eight months later, “El Matador” cemented his grip on the title by becoming the first man to stop the great Max Holloway with strikes. Topuria achieved that feat in the main event of last month’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, closing the show with a vicious left hook in round three.

The Spaniard is quickly building a strong legacy at featherweight, and at the age of just 27, he has plenty of time to achieve his goal of surpassing the champs that came before him in the division.

Topuria, however, appears to already have one eye on conquering another weight class. Even before he added Holloway’s name and a first defense to his résumé, the fast-rising star outlined his plans to dethrone lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.

In addition to going back and forth with the Dagestani on social media, Topuria has even vowed to beat Makhachev at his own game by becoming the first to submit him.

One man who is certainly familiar with the lightweight champ, however, has told Topuria to hold his horses…

During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, coach Joe Lopez reacted to Topuria’s talk of a move up in weight. Volkanovski’s trainer insisted that “El Matador” remains far from having earned the right to challenge the titleholder above him.

“That’s great (Topuria wanting Makhachev), but you’ve gotta have — like with anybody, you’ve gotta have at least five or six title defenses before you start looking at doubling up,” Lopez said. “You’re just holding up divisions. When you’ve cleaned out a division, then you’ve got the right to jump up a division. Until then, you’ve just gotta fight the cause in your division, you know?

“I guess it’s like jumping the queue and you want to have the title shot before somebody else that’s above you, you know? But it’s just human nature, I guess,” Lopez continued. “Everybody wants that double champ status ’cause it’s very rare to get.”

Volkanovski himself recorded four successful defenses before his first opportunity to add a second title to his trophy cabinet in 2023. A fifth then came ahead of a sophomore chance at unseating Makhachev on short notice that same year.

With that in mind, it would appear Topuria has some work to do before looking to prove his confidence correct when it comes to outgrappling Makhachev inside the cage.

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Alexander Volkanovski On Ilia Topuria’s Fighter Of The Year Claim: ‘If It Wasn’t Pereira Saving Cards…’

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is backing Ilia Topuria for 2024’s Fighter of the Year accolade despite Alex Pereira’s record-breaking run. Topuria took another step toward greatness on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, where he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view against BMF titleholder and 145-pound legend Max Holloway. […]

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Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is backing Ilia Topuria for 2024’s Fighter of the Year accolade despite Alex Pereira’s record-breaking run.

Topuria took another step toward greatness on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, where he headlined the UFC 308 pay-per-view against BMF titleholder and 145-pound legend Max Holloway.

After shockingly putting Volkanovski down in Anaheim this past February, “El Matador” repeated the feat at Holloway’s expense, becoming the first to knock the Hawaiian out in the process.

Just weeks ago, many saw the Fighter of the Year debate as being wrapped up after Pereira defeated Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 to record his third successful light heavyweight defense of the year.

Pre-UFC 308, though, Volkanovski outlined a strong case for Topuria were he to add Holloway’s name to his growing résumé in the sport’s leading promotion.

And during an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Volkanovski said there wouldn’t even be a debate about “Poatan” pipping Topuria to the post if it wasn’t for the way in which his assignments came together.

The Australian pointed out that Pereira is credited with ‘saving’ the promotion after a struggle to find a suitable UFC 300 main event and the late-notice withdrawal of Conor McGregor weeks before UFC 303.

“A few things come into play when you’re saving cards. Put it this way, if it wasn’t Pereira saving cards and putting his belt on the line while saving cards, it would be clearly Ilia,” Volkanovski said. “Yeah, you’ve had three defenses, but the two that Ilia took out and finished us both, it’s hard to pick against Ilia, to be honest.

“Before this past weekend, I was like, ‘How does Pereira not get it?’ It was pretty clear,” Volkanovski continued. “It’s pretty impressive, man. It’s tough to say.”

Pereira’s victories over Jamahal Hill, Ji?í Procházka, and Rountree this year came in the space of just 175 days, breaking Ronda Rousey’s record for the shortest time to record three consecutive defenses.

The level of competition Topuria has faced, however — alongside the manner with which he’s beaten two of the greatest of all time — has made him a popular choice for Fighter of the Year.

Beyond that discussion concluding in a couple of months’ time, Volkanovski appears likely to be the one next tasked with bringing Topuria’s violent run to an end.

After he entered the cage for a respectful interaction with the champ in Abu Dhabi, the Australian was confirmed as the next challenger by UFC CEO Dana White, setting the stage for a monumental rematch in 2025.

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Volkanovski Responds to Conor McGregor vs. Ilia Topuria Drama: ‘That’s Not Happening’

Volkanovski Responds to Conor McGregor vs. Ilia Topuria Drama: ‘That's Not Happening’Alexander Volkanovski is not concerned by Conor McGregor’s recent online rivalry with reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Even before…

Volkanovski Responds to Conor McGregor vs. Ilia Topuria Drama: ‘That's Not Happening’

Alexander Volkanovski is not concerned by Conor McGregor’s recent online rivalry with reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

Even before his incredible third-round KO against Max Holloway at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, Topuria and the Irishman had been trading barbs on social media and in recent interviews, setting the groundwork for a potential clash inside the Octagon someday.

Conor McGregor

Volkanovski, who was revealed to be the next man in line for Topuria following Saturday’s pay-per-view in the UAE, addressed the recent drama between McGregor and Topuria and whether or not he was concerned with the former champ-champ trying to steal his spotlight.

“Nah, I mean if he [Topuria] wanted it… But he’s [McGregor] not getting down to featherweight [and] by the time that happens that will be two years… So it ain’t gonna happen,” Volkanovski told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t know what he meant by “call me.” Whether they do that in a different division… We all know that’s not happening anytime soon anywhere.”

Topuria captured the title last February via a second-round knockout of Volkavnovski at UFC 298 in Anaheim. Since then, ‘The Great’ has taken some much-needed time away from the Octagon but looks primed to return in 2025 and run it back with ‘El Matador’ in hopes of reclaiming the crown he carried for more than four years.

Conor McGregor’s ‘Call me’ post has everyone scratching their heads

Immediately after Ilia Topuria became the first fighter to ever knock out Max Holloway in MMA, McGregor curiously posted a message on social media stating, “Call me.”

Conor McGregor

Initially, everyone believed that it was the Irish megastar once again feigning interest in a fight with Topuria.

However, McGregor may have been targeting Holloway for a potential BMF title tilt. Blessed’ is still the holder of the bragging rights belt even after his brutal loss at UFC 308 over the weekend. Given their built-in history, McGregor vs. Holloway could be a perfect return match for McGregor now that Michael Chandler has opted to move on.

Conor McGregor

Ilia Topuria’s Coach Reveals Why He Expects A More Dangerous Volkanovski In The Rematch

Despite the incredible run that Alexander Volkanovski went on as the featherweight champion, he’s going to be the underdog in his upcoming rematch with Ilia Topuria. When the two men exchanged pleasantries inside the Octagon this past weekend at UFC 308, it was clear that this fight would be next but there’s some big question […]

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Despite the incredible run that Alexander Volkanovski went on as the featherweight champion, he’s going to be the underdog in his upcoming rematch with Ilia Topuria. When the two men exchanged pleasantries inside the Octagon this past weekend at UFC 308, it was clear that this fight would be next but there’s some big question marks hanging over it.

After the way that Topuria stopped Volkanovski in February and then went on to finish Max Holloway in Abu Dhabi, “El Matador” is on his own iconic run right now and that’s going to be difficult for the former champion to stop.

One of the major talking points of their first encounter does come back around for the rematch though and that’s how much Volkanovski was affected by his knockout loss to Islam Makhachev several months before. A lot of people who picked Topuria to win that fight did so with the belief that “The Great” had jumped back in too quickly, especially when facing someone with the kind of power that his opponent is known for.

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, this is something that Topuria’s coach drew attention to as why they cannot afford to take this rematch lightly just because they’ve beaten their next opponent before.

Jorge Climent, of Climent Club in Alicante, said that he expects a better version of the former champion meaning that this isn’t just a re-treading of steps for the featherweight king.

“I think Volk in a rematch is going to be more dangerous than the first time because I think when he take the fight, is not the moment for fight with Ilia. If I’m his coach, I’m going to tell Volk in that moment, is not the right moment. You have a knockout, you have a fight, I don’t remember exactly, two months and you have a knockout. I think he have the time for recovery and to think and do a better strategy with Ilia.”

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