Alexander Volkanovski is eyeing his next potential featherweight opponent, and he believes Ilia Topuria fits the bill. After his recent loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, Volkanovski expressed his desire for another shot at Makhachev. However, Topuria’s impressive performance at UFC Jacksonville has caught his attention, making him a strong contender for the featherweight title.
Volkanovski emphasized his preference for facing Topuria, stating, “I’m hearing a lot of people mentioning other guys, Ilia fighting other guys. I’m like, ‘No, don’t do it. Just give me a guy. Give me a contender.’ To be honest, again, I’m not going to say too much, obviously I think he’s a good fighter. But the more I speak, the less I’m going to hype up the fight. I think he’s great.”
Before any potential matchup with Topuria, Volkanovski has a title defense against Yair Rodriguez scheduled for July 8. A victory would mark his fifth successful title defense and maintain his undefeated record at 145 pounds.
Following Topuria’s dominant win over Josh Emmett, the confident Georgian-Spanish fighter expressed his intention to end Volkanovski’s reign. While open to a marquee matchup with former champion Max Holloway in Spain, Topuria is willing to wait for a title shot.
Volkanovski, on the other hand, wants to stay active and face challenging opponents. He sees Yair Rodriguez as a more significant threat than Ilia Topuria, focusing on that bout first. However, he is keen on a rematch with Islam Makhachev and desires to remain active in the division.
While people have mentioned Topuria fighting other opponents, Volkanovski welcomes the challenge if he is considered the next contender. Nevertheless, he remains focused on his upcoming fight against Rodriguez.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about title challenger
Q: Who does Alexander Volkanovski see as his next potential title challenger?
A: Alexander Volkanovski sees Ilia Topuria as his next potential featherweight title challenger.
Q: What was the outcome of Volkanovski’s recent fight?
A: Volkanovski lost a close unanimous decision when he moved up to challenge lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 284.
Q: What are Volkanovski’s thoughts on Ilia Topuria?
A: Volkanovski considers Ilia Topuria to be a good fighter and sees him as a potential challenge in the featherweight division.
Q: Who is Volkanovski scheduled to fight next?
A: Volkanovski is set to defend his title against Yair Rodriguez in his next fight, scheduled for July 8.
Q: How many successful title defenses does Volkanovski have?
A: A victory against Yair Rodriguez would mark Volkanovski’s fifth straight successful title defense.
Q: What are Topuria’s ambitions in the division?
A: Ilia Topuria aims to end Volkanovski’s dominant reign and has expressed interest in a potential matchup with former champion Max Holloway in Spain.
Q: Does Volkanovski want to stay active and face challenging opponents?
A: Yes, Volkanovski wants to remain active in the division and is open to exciting fights, including a rematch with Islam Makhachev.
More about title challenger
- UFC Official Website
- Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC Profile
- Ilia Topuria’s UFC Profile
- Yair Rodriguez’s UFC Profile
- UFC 284 Event Details
- UFC Jacksonville Event Details
