Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe there is a clear number one contender at featherweight
Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t know who he will defend his featherweight title against first.
Volkanovski, who beat Max Holloway at UFC 245 to win the title, where some said an immediate rematch makes sense. And, he doesn’t think Zabit Magomedsharipov or Chan Sung Jung deserve it either.
So, with him out with a broken hand, he believes someone should go out and fight and earn the right to fight him.
“I’m sitting on the sidelines with a broken hand, and there’s people that are coming up,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “There are all these guys that want titles, but it depends on potential matchups, but no one is the clear number one contender. That’s what’s sort of (happening) right now. While I’ve got a broken hand, why doesn’t someone go and take that number one contender spot?”
Alexander Volkanovski has made it known his title was earned not given. After the win over Chad Mendes, he could have campaigned by a title shot but he then fought Jose Aldo in Brazil.
To top it off, he then went to UFC 240 to be the backup fighter to cement himself as the number one contender.
“There are fights you need to fight to put yourself in a position where no one can take it away from them, just like I had done when I was in Canada,” Volkanovski said. “The weight cut was terrible to back up for the title fight. Going to Brazil to fight the No. 1 contender Aldo and going to a different country just knowing that that’s how you get the number one contender spot, I went and done it. I just think that this is an opportunity for guys that, if they really want that title fight, again I’m looking to fight mid-year, hopefully something like that. People have to go and take that number one spot. Go and take it.”
In the end, Volkanovski makes it known he would fight any of them but hopes one of them goes out and picks up a win.
“I’m happy to fight any of them, but I just want the number one contender,” Volkanovski said. “I want someone who’s the clear number one . If there’s that much debate on who should be next, don’t let there be debate. Go take it. It seems like they’re all one fight away from a title fight. I just don’t think they should be sitting on the sidelines waiting.”
