After taking 14 months to recover from his previous loss, Alexander Volkanovski is not planning another long break. Fans can expect to see “The Great” back in action sooner rather than later.
The newly crowned two-time featherweight champion is eager to take advantage of his victory over Diego Lopes at UFC 314. This is exciting news for the featherweight division, which is full of strong contenders.
Potential opponents include Yair Rodriguez, who could have a rematch with Volkanovski after a recent win. Movsar Evloev, with a perfect 9-0 record in the UFC, is another possibility. Also in the mix is Jean Silva, who impressed at UFC 314 with a submission victory over Bryce Mitchell.
Volkanovski seems ready to face any of these challengers and believes he could fight twice more within the next eight months.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Volkanovski mentioned his desire to stay active. He needs to address a few minor injuries and consult with the UFC before finalizing his plans.
“I’m definitely fighting again this year, but the question is, could I fit in two more fights?” he stated.
Yair Rodriguez, who is from Mexico, is hoping to fight Volkanovski at UFC 320 in Guadalajara on September 13. Rodriguez previously lost to Volkanovski at UFC 290 in a title unification fight when Rodriguez held an interim title.
Rodriguez might be a more appealing opponent at the moment than Evloev. Evloev`s wrestling-focused style hasn`t been favored by UFC President Dana White and matchmakers, despite his wins against notable fighters.
Volkanovski, 36, feels that there isn`t a clear number one contender right now. He plans to recover from minor injuries before deciding his next move.
“That’s the situation,” Volkanovski explained. “I was hoping for more clarity, especially since I want to be active, but it’s not entirely clear yet. We`ll have to wait and see.”
“I think Movsar`s name has been mentioned, but I need to see if the UFC is interested in that fight. Does the UFC want it? Do the fans want it? I`m sure Movsar is interested. I need to consider what makes the most sense. However, I intend to be active enough this year so that anyone who wants a fight can likely get one.”
