{"id":22185,"date":"2025-07-25T22:47:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T22:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/22185\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T22:47:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T22:47:06","slug":"ufc-champion-alexander-volkanovski-targets-undefeated-contender-for-next-title-fight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/22185\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Champion Alexander Volkanovski targets undefeated contender for next title fight"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski is looking to stay active this year after regaining his title with a win in April at UFC 314 at Kaseya Center in Miami, FL, against Diego Lopes.<\/p>\n

Volkanovski doesn’t have an outright preference about who he fights next, but he does want it to be a worthy title challenger, primarily one he has yet to face.<\/p>\n

One of those names, of course, is Movsar Evloev. The featherweight contender was slated to fight Aaron Pico at UFC Abu Dhabi this Saturday, but an undisclosed injury has delayed the fight further, which leaves the champion in limbo about his immediate UFC title fight future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that\u2019s what is happening, which is unfortunate because as I\u2019ve said, I\u2019ve made it clear that I believe he should be next,” Volkanovski told Main Event TV<\/a>. “He deserves it, and I know that he was gonna get the title shot if he was to win that fight. So now that sort of puts a spanner in the works.”<\/p>\n

\"Evloev<\/p>\n

Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Movsar Evloev (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Arnold Allen (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images \/ Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Volkanovski says it’s unclear which direction the UFC goes next, as he is waiting for further clarification.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens from here, are they pushing the fight back, is someone gonna replace him, or the winner of that fight ends up being who I face, so it leaves things up in the air for me, but we\u2019ll see what happens,” Volkanovski said.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Ilia Topuria hopes UFC gives him Conor McGregor treatment after Canelo-Crawford fight<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Volkanovski<\/p>\n

Apr 12, 2025; Miami, Florida, UNITED STATES; Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) reacts after defeating Diego Lopes (not pictured) during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images \/ Sam Navarro-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Volkanovski adds that there are other deserving contenders if the promotion opts not to give Evloev a title shot with another win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all up in the air,” Volkanovski said. “There are some guys, if you had your Lerone Murphy, Arnold Allen, there are some other guys who are right up there, if they were to fill in as a late replacement and get a win, I\u2019m sure the UFC are gonna [give them a title shot].”<\/p>\n

For now, the rest of the MMA community continues to wait alongside Volkanovski to see what happens at 145 pounds.<\/p>\n

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