![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Photos and videos quickly spread across social media, showing Silva shadowboxing in the unmistakable green-and-gold kit made famous by the Aussie champ.<\/p>\n
Fans didn\u2019t take long to weigh in once the clips surfaced, with some praising it as elite-level trolling and others dismissing it as \u201cjust plain weird.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s another calculated move from the 29-year-old contender, who is looking to force his way back into the featherweight title conversation.<\/p>\n
Following Volk\u2019s second consecutive clinic over Diego Lopes at UFC 325<\/a>, Silva took to social media to issue a challenge to the champ with a barely disguised threat.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that Volkanovski is asking for [Movsar] Evloev, I don\u2019t know what. He\u2019s asking the guys not to get hurt,\u201d Silva said. <\/p>\n \u201cBro, sorry to inform you if you want to stay good and without getting hurt, I understand you.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if you want to fight a guy who hits hard, I\u2019m your guy and I will tell you more. I\u2019m going there to [training] camp with [Ilia] Topuria to break you. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll let you know. I\u2019ll warn you, I go there.\u201d<\/p>\n Jean Silva wearing Alex Volkanovski’s custom shortsSource: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n Of course, Silva may well have been standing opposite Volkanovski recently in Sydney had he not been stopped by Lopes in their September showdown.<\/p>\n Since that setback, \u2018Lord\u2019 has rebuilt momentum with a gritty decision win over Arnold Allen at UFC 324 \u2013 and he\u2019s clearly hoping that rebound performance has thrust him straight back into the champion\u2019s line of sight.<\/p>\n Last week, however, the Wollongong icon made it clear he\u2019s not entertaining side quests<\/a> — his next title defence, he says, will come against one of the division\u2019s two leading contenders — Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got Silva, obviously just probably trying to get his name out there,\u201d Volkanovski said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s actually not a bad guy. I met him in Miami, and we got along pretty good.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he was a pretty nice guy, but now he\u2019s saying a couple of things. I don\u2019t know if he really is upset with the Ruffy thing. I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s an actual thing or people taking it way out of context.<\/p>\n \u201cBut now he\u2019s saying some stuff and thinking that he really deserves next. If the UFC will push that for me, everyone knows me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll fight anyone, but I don\u2019t think that\u2019s very likely to happen.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019d be in a position to be able to fight for the title, especially when you\u2019ve got Lerone Murphy and Movsar fighting very, very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, another high-profile UFC star has thrown his name into the mix, with Aljamain Sterling publicly staking his claim for a crack at Volkanovski.<\/p>\n Sterling, who is the former bantamweight champ, and currently ranked fifth in the featherweight division believes he\u2019d be the perfect match for the Aussie.<\/p>\n \u201cThis guy right here,\u201d Sterling said in a video clip he posted on X regarding Volk\u2019s next fight.<\/p>\n \u201cI got a newfound skillset at 36 years old. <\/p>\n \u201cTwo OGs going after it, I think I make a great case for a fight like that.<\/p>\n \u201cI pose a lot of threats on the ground, striking, when it comes to speed, when it comes to IQ, when to level change, when to look for takedowns.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that makes me a threat in all facets of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Plenty of fans were quick to question Sterling\u2019s credentials at featherweight, but the former bantamweight champion had a simple response for his critics.<\/p>\n \u201cNumbers don\u2019t lie,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n Former champ Aljamain Sterling says he should be the man to have the next shot at Alex VolkanovskiSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n Elsewhere, undefeated contender Movsar Evloev is focussed on capturing the featherweight crown as he prepares to book his title shot by beating Lerone Murphy at UFC London on March 21.<\/p>\n Despite not finishing a fight in almost seven years, the 31-year-old says he has the weapons to KO Volkanovski when he gets his shot.<\/p>\n