It looks like Alexander Volkanovski still has his eyes on becoming a two-division UFC champion. The Australian has already tried his luck at lightweight, moving up to challenge Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title on two occasions.
The first fight took place at UFC 284 in Australia, where Volk gave Makhachev one of the toughest fights of his career. The Dagestani ultimately won a close decision to retain his belt, although many fans believed Volkanovski had done enough to get his hand raised.
Their second meeting at UFC 294 went very differently. Volkanovski stepped in on short notice after Charles Oliveira withdrew from his scheduled title fight against Makhachev due to a cut above his eye. Unfortunately for the Australian, the gamble backfired as he suffered a brutal head-kick knockout and missed out on another chance to become a double champion.
Now, in 2026, Volkanovski appears to have another idea in mind. The featherweight champion recently floated the possibility of facing Justin Gaethje in a potential retirement fight for both legends, with the lightweight title on the line.
Alexander Volkanovski Eyes Third Lightweight Title Shot to Become UFC Double Champion
During a recent interview with Who The Fook Are These Guys, Volk discussed the possibility of a superfight against Gaethje, who recently beat Ilia Topuria at the White House. He said, “Imagine that. You do that as like a send-off, Gaethje and Volk, ‘cause he’s talking about… Does he want to fight still? He’s like, maybe one more, then that could be like a super fight.”
He added, “Let’s do a super fight, lightweight title on the line, and then we can both see everyone off with a crazy super fight.”
Volkanovski also explained why the matchup could make sense, especially with Gaethje seemingly questioning how much longer he wants to compete. The Australian said, “[Gaethje is] sitting there and goes, ‘Ah, what’s the point of doing rematches and all that?’ I’m like, oh, let’s do a super fight. Let’s do it. And then, straight after that, let the divisions sort themselves out, you know what I mean? And UFC will be happy with that. There you go, let’s make that happen.”
Alexander Volkanovski is interested in a superfight against Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title 👀
“Let’s do a superfight, lightweight title on the line and then we can both [retire]. Then, straight after that, let the division sort themselves out. Let’s make that happen.”
(via @WhoTheFookPod)
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 15, 2026
For context, Gaethje has shown little interest in an immediate rematch with Topuria after their fight ended with him being stopped following the fourth round. Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan could be next in line for a shot at the lightweight title, although Gaethje’s future in the sport remains uncertain.
That uncertainty makes Volkanovski’s proposal an intriguing one. A potential retirement superfight would give both veterans a massive opportunity to end their careers on a high note while adding another chapter to their respective legacies.
However, Volk has a major challenge to overcome before he can start thinking about lightweight gold again. He is set to defend his featherweight title against undefeated Movsar Evloev in the main event of UFC 333. Evloev enters the matchup with a perfect 20-0 professional record, including 10 wins inside the Octagon.
Volkanovski is arguably the greatest featherweight in UFC history. Across his two title reigns, the Australian has defended his belt six times, beating the likes of Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, and Diego Lopes during his run at 145 pounds.
If he can get past Evloev and eventually secure a win over Gaethje for the lightweight title, Volkanovski could become the 12th double champion in UFC history. It would be another incredible achievement for a fighter who has already built a strong case as one of the greatest to ever step inside the Octagon.
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