Alexander Volkanovski has revealed he expects to next defend his UFC crown against undefeated Russian bogeyman Movsar Evloev, while also opening up on the one big scare of his emphatic UFC 325 triumph – when dropped by a Diego Lopes short right hand.
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Fighting before a heaving Sydney crowd that included the likes of Steve Waugh, Nathan Cleary and Anthony ‘Choc’ Mundine, Volkanovski put on a fighting clinic to earn a near faultless decision win over Lopes.
That, and a US$100,000 Fight of the Night bonus.
“So I can go and buy my bobcat,” he cackled afterwards, referencing that piece of farm machinery he talked about buying in fight week, should he be gifted one of UFC boss Dana White’s new bonuses.
And given how easily Volkanovski disposed of Lopes, who he had also beaten by decision last April, talk immediately turned to who the 37-year-old champion wants next out.
Despite boasting a variety of options – which go as wild as a BMF title shot, or fight on the White House lawn – ‘Volk’ suggested his most likely option was one of the division’s two top contenders, Evloev and Lerone Murphy.
While most UFC fans and analysts had expected either of the two men to be Volkanovski’s rival on this night in Sydney, ‘The Great’ suggested there was now talk of the pair fighting to determine a No.1 challenger.
Volk hypes crowd with hilarious moment | 00:31
Elsewhere, Volkanovski also shrugged off a shock fight week challenge from hyped UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan, saying: “Maybe he is throwing that out there for a laugh.”
Should the UFC slate a showdown between Evloev and Murphy, Volkanovski was asked by Fox Sports Australia to give his thoughts on who he expected to come through as his next challenger?
“Aaaah, Lerone Murohy has good footwork and can fight the right fight,” he said of the Englishman who is undefeated in 18 professional fights, including all 10 inside the Octagon.
“But I just think Movsar is going to be stronger. I think Movsar takes that.
“It’s an interesting fight. And if anyone can work a good game plan to keep him on the outside and make it hard for Movsar, Lerone could do that.
“But if I have to pick someone, Movsar.”
Like Murphy, Evloev is on a huge undefeated tear, stretching 19 professional fights.
The Russian grappler’s nine UFC wins also include scalps like Aljamain Sterling, Arnold Allen, Dan Ige, even a 2023 win over Lopes.
Elsewhere, Volkanovski was also asked what he made of the surprise challenge from Tsarukyan, who is right in contention for UFC lightweight king Ilia Topuira – or at least after interim champ Justin Gaethje.
Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s program in fight week, Tsarukyan suggested he was considering a shock drop down in weight to challenge ‘The Great’.
The 29-year-old also warned he could make quick work of Australia’s favourite MMA star, stressing: “One axe kick— that’s it. Dot com”.
But as for Volk believing any of it?
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“I dunno,” he shrugged.
“He’s not too tall, he’s a solid dude.
“Can he make 154? I’m not sure.
“But again, everyone knows I’ll fight anyone, anywhere.
“He would obviously be a great challenge but I’m not taking that serious.
“Because he should be fighting for the [lightweight] title right? He is the one that should’ve been there.
“So maybe he is throwing that out there for a bit of a laugh.
“I’m not paying too much attention to that until I know it’s serious.
“I’ve got two serious guys in Lerone Murphy and Mosvar, so I’ll just worry about them until someone says otherwise.”
Volkanovski was also asked, if the Murphy-Movsar fight encounters dramas, if he would be willing to go straight into a fight with either Tsarukyan, or another option like, say, Brazilian featherweight Jean Silva.
“I’m an easy champion,” the Windang favourite said.
“I’ll talk to the UFC and if that’s what they want [I will do it].
“But I feel bad enough that there are guys who deserve it and have had to wait.
“Even though they are eventually going to get it, do I keep wanting to make them wait? I have a responsibility.
“I have a responsibility as champion.
“I don’t think enough champions look at it that way, but for me, I do. There are rankings for a reason. And there are people that deserve it.
“But if for some reason someone else does get in, I’ll be active enough to still give the people that deserve it a chance.
“So they won’t have to wait too long.
“But if I keep letting people cut the line, I’m not really doing my part, either. So I will talk to the UFC and see what they say.”
Elsewhere, Volkanovski also opened up on the biggest scare of what was a near faultless performance – being dropped by a Lopes right hand during a third round exchange.
Despite being downed by the punch, Volk bounced straight back up and suggested afterwards he was untroubled by the moment as he eventually won easily on the scorecards: 49-46, 49-46, 50-45.
Goosebumps as Volk walks out in Sydney | 01:39
“I was alright,” he stressed afterwards of the moment. “I was all there.
“You know, it wasn’t like ‘where am I?’
“So all good.
“And whether it was just that flash [knockdown], where you lose your feet a little?
“I saw a replay actually, saw my feet get caught.
“Obviously it wasn’t [just] a trip, it was from the punch as well.
“A bit of both.
“So whether it was a flash? I was alright. I didn’t think much of it.
“I remember feeling it but knowing that I was all good.
“I remember thinking ‘s*** that ain’t gunna look good’. That’s all I thought.”
Volkanovski also lifted the curtain on how tough it had been to get his Australian homecoming.
“It was hard to get this believe it or not,” he said. “I don’t know if youse know, but it wasn’t easy getting an event here in Sydney.
“As you can see, it’s been back-to-back weeks of UFC numbered events.
“There was a reason for that.
“This was only time we could do this here and everyone did their part to make it happen, for the Australian public, for me, and I’m very thankful.”
Earlier this week, Volkanovski told Fox Sports Australia he wanted a UFC bonus so he could buy a bobcat for his farm, which he doubled down on again after winning exactly that.
“So pretty cool,” he grinned. “I can get my bobcat now for the farm.
“I’m looking forward to that.
“[Laughs] Unless, there are sponsors out there. And then I won’t have to buy a bobcat … I’ll buy the missus a purse.”
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