Alexander Volkanovski (left)(image via YouTube / UFC)

By FCF Staff

In recent months, there’s been speculation regarding Alexander Volkanovski’s next fight, and whether we could see the former featherweight champ return to lightweight for another bout. But, it sounds like the Australian star intends to remain on the sidelines, until he can challenge for the UFC’s featherweight title again.

Volkanovski (26-4) hasn’t competed since he lost the featherweight belt to Ilia Topuria (15-0) in February, via a second-round knockout. That defeat followed a KO loss to lightweight champ, Islam Makhachev (26-1) in October, 2023.

More recently, the 35-year-old Volkanovski spoke with Sky Sports New Zealand. While discussing his next steps, the renowned fighter reported he plans to wait for the winner of the October 26th fight between Topuria and Max Holloway (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“That’s exactly what’s happening,” Volkanovski said. “So I can wait or if I don’t want to wait, I can do something else. Or just wait, and the UFC has made that clear. Obviously, that’s probably what I’m going to do.

“I could have maybe done a lightweight fight, I think there’s a lot of exciting fights there, but the UFC aren’t big fans of floating. Look, you want to go to lightweight, you’re going to have to probably stay there, that’s the only thing, and then I might lose that featherweight title shot. So I might just have to wait. It’s only a couple of months, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

The Topuria – Holloway fight will headline UFC 308, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi. Holloway (26-7), who Volkanovski has defeated three times, is coming off an electrifying, knockout of Justin Gaethje in April.