Alexander Volkanovski shut down Saturday night’s featherweight GOAT debate by demolishing the previously undefeated Movsar Evloev. Many believed that Evloev represented Volkanovski’s most serious challenger at 145 pounds. supremacy, but at UFC 333, Volkanovski stuffed Evloev’s takedowns and reversed, and then beat him on the head until he had had enough.
With the win, it was easy to forget that Volkanovski is 38 years old and not much taller for the sport. Australia’s future Hall of Famer knows his time in the cage is limited, too. And he’s been very vocal about what he wants to see next.
Volkanovski has repeatedly expressed his desire for a double retirement fight with UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Volkanovski wants this fight to take place at lightweight and for Gaethje’s belt. He also said he would be happy to give up his featherweight title to make it happen.
Dana White likes the plan, but things are awfully quiet with Gaethje right now.
Gaethje is the front-runner for Fighter of the Year after defeating Paddy Pimblett to win the interim title and usher in the Paramount Plus era, then unifying the belt with an incredible performance against Ilia Topuria on the White House lawn.
Unless Gaethje is interested in defending against Tsarukyan or legacy fight with Volkanovski, last weekend’s big winner has the perfect plan.
said Volkanovski Yahoo! this week, should Gaethje retire, he will step up to lightweight and fight Tsarukyan for the belt.
“If Gaethje doesn’t want to do it, I will,” he said. “Me versus Arman for the belt. That excites me. You’ve got Ilia and Paddy who are in a great position, but it’s a great fight (between them). So if you needed a title fight, it’s Arman and me.”
Volkanovski said he’s excited to fight Tsarukyan because he has a lot of respect for his skills, as shown a few months ago when Tsarukyan brainwashed Mauricio Ruffy with an elbow from hell.
“Arman is a great fighter. I would love it (the fight) very much,” continued Volkanovski. “Everybody knows how I do against wrestlers. Everybody knows I can handle wrestlers. I believe that even as good as Arman is, I think he’s one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the UFC, you’re not going to hold me down. Even Armani. I respect him so much, but I’m going to get back up, he and I fight well. It’s going to be a fun fight.”
Tsarukyan is unlikely to deviate from this plan. He said earlier this week he would fight Volkanovskiwho he said was “old” and had a “bad chin”. After he said that, Tsarukyan said, he felt Gaethje pull him aside.
Volkanovski is one of the few fighters in the sport who might have earned the right to call his own shots with the UFC. Unfortunately for him, this particular request has a lot of moving parts. Personally, I would love to see Volkanovski vs. Gaethje in a big marquee that ends the careers of both.
