{"id":946182,"date":"2026-10-25T22:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T22:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/946182\/"},"modified":"2026-10-25T22:00:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T22:00:14","slug":"ufc-legend-alexander-volkanovski-teases-mega-champ-vs-champ-fight-after-ufc-333","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/946182\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Legend Alexander Volkanovski Teases Mega Champ vs. Champ Fight After UFC 333"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his title in under 10 minutes in the main event of UFC 333<\/a> in Abu Dhabi, securing a TKO against the previously-unbeaten Movsar Evloev.<\/p>\n

Volkanovski, 38, doesn’t plan on hanging up the gloves just yet, despite later telling assembled media in Abu Dhabi that he nearly pulled out of the fight with an illness and refused to pull out to recover. Volkanovski was dominant throughout, as he plans to keep competing in title fights with the outside opportunity of a much bigger fight down the road.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m choosing to do (fight); I don\u2019t have to. I said if I didn\u2019t take too much damage, we will probably keep going. So maybe we keep going,\u201d Volkanovski said in the Octagon afterward.<\/p>\n

Following the fight, reporters asked Volkanovski whether he’d entertain a potential superfight with UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje if Gaethje doesn’t retire.<\/a><\/p>\n

Will Volkanovski vs. Gaethje Happen Next?\"Alexander<\/p>\n

Jul 8, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alexander Volkanovski (red gloves) reacts after defeating Yair Rodriguez (blue gloves) during UFC 290 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

Volkanovski’s answer was, of course, unsurprising.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 Alexander Volkanovski says he wants to move up to fight Justin Gaethje for his retirement fight \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

“I don’t want to hold divisions up, but I believe we could do this and not hold the divisions up.<\/p>\n

That’s something I’d retire for. If they want to give me that opportunity, win\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/m5CmvrC4HM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an honest guy. I want it to be fair,\u201d Volkanovski said. \u201cSo a lot of times I\u2019m like, I don\u2019t want to hold divisions up. But I believe we could do this and not hold the division up. Again, whether it\u2019s both our retirement fight and put it on the line, which would be cool, little bit of a superfight, 38-year-olds going at it, and then we\u2019ll leave it all and let all the young fellas sort themselves out.”<\/p>\n

Volkanovski added that, should another lightweight title fight come to fruition, having lost both of his previous opportunities against Islam Makhachev<\/a> in 2023, he’d be comfortable retiring afterward, he said.<\/p>\n

Why Gaethje Giving Volkanovski a Superfight Makes Sense\"Justin<\/p>\n

Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Justin Gaethje (blue gloves) celebrates after winning the UFC Freedom 250 fight against Ilia Topuria (not pictured) at the White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something I would retire for,” Volkanovski said. “So if they wanted to give me that opportunity, I would retire. Win or lose, retire; then it\u2019s vacant, so I\u2019m not holding the division up. Then you\u2019re gonna get the \u2014 if I win it and vacate, then you\u2019ve got everyone else fighting anyway. So that\u2019s something I would retire for. Otherwise, I\u2019m just taking each fight as it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gaethje has yet to make an executive decision regarding his next fight, having won undisputed gold in June against Ilia Topuria in their unification fight in Washington, D.C., after Gaethje won the interim title against Paddy Pimblett five months earlier.<\/p>\n

It’s unclear when a would-be fight could happen for Volkanovski, as he competed twice this year after regaining the then-vacant title in 2025.<\/p>\n

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