Alexander Volkanovski put on a masterclass at UFC 333.
On Saturday in Abu Dhabi, Volkanovski added to his legendary résumé with one of the best performances of his career, finishing the previously undefeated Movsar Evloev in the main event. For many, the win cemented Volkanovski as the featherweight GOAT and moved him up the ladder of all-time pound-for-pound greats, and it’s a performance the featherweight champion was thrilled with.
“Very happy,” Volkanovski said in the UFC 333 post-fight press conference. “I wouldn’t mind watching it back, but to get a finish over an undefeated prospect like that—again, he’s a great fighter, but I just knew that I had the skills to make it very hard for him. I wanted to get the finish, I believed I could get the finish, and here we are. We got it.”
What comes next for Volkanovski is an open question. While “The Great” has said he’s open to continuing to defend his title, he’s also been lobbying for a shot at lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Volkanovski failed in his two previous attempts to move up and grab the 155-pound title, but UFC CEO Dana White admitted that, given all Volkanovski has accomplished, the promotion would be hard-pressed to deny him anything he wants. And Volkanovski thinks there’s a way to book that fight fairly.
“I’m an honest guy. I want it to be fair,” Volkanovski said. “So a lot of times I’m like, I don’t want to hold divisions up. But I believe we could do this and not hold the division up. Again, whether it’s 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’ll leave it all and let all the young fellas sort themselves out.
“That’s something I would retire for. So if they wanted to give me that opportunity, I would retire. Win or lose, retire; then it’s vacant, so I’m not holding the division up. Then you’re gonna get the — if I win it and vacate, then you’ve got everyone else fighting anyway. So that’s something I would retire for. Otherwise, I’m just taking each fight as it goes.”
And it doesn’t have to be against Gaethje. Arman Tsarukyan is widely seen as the rightful next challenger for Gaethje’s title, and if that fight comes to pass first and Tsarukyan holds the belt, Volkanovski is equally as fine taking on Tsarukyan.
“Of course. One hundred percent. Definitely,” Volkanovski said about Tsarukyan. “The only problem for me is just, I don’t want to—I’ve always been the guy that was like, ‘You need to earn it.’ I believe I’ve earned it, but at the same time, there’s so many people in that division that have earned it as well. So, if I can do this and not hold the division up, I’d love it. Let’s do it. One hundred percent. And that would be a great fight; Arman’s a great fighter.”