Why UFC champ wants to brush Volk… and who Aussie superstar could fight next instead

UFC superstar Ilia Topuria wants to brush a rematch with Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski in favour of moving to lightweight — and a superfight with Islam Makhachev – while also stressing ‘The Great’ will have no impact as a cornerman against his older brother this Sunday.

UFC 312: Du Plessis v Strickland 2 | SUN 9 FEB | UFC middleweight king Dricus du Plessis is headed back Down Under for yet another title defence, with the South African set to face Sean Strickland in a blockbuster UFC 312 headliner in Sydney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

The UFC featherweight king also says a big reason for not wanting to throw down with Volkanovski again is because he really likes the Wollongong slugger as a bloke – and doesn’t want to finish him a second time.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in Sydney on Wednesday however, Volkanovski shrugged off the claims and suggested the man who took his title this time a year ago has every right to be “cocky”.

The former champ also said he was happy to face hyped Brazilian Diego Lopes for the interim featherweight strap at UFC 314 in April – stressing it would only make an eventual rematch with Topuria bigger.

As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia, Topuria is in Sydney this week to corner his older brother Aleks, who is making his UFC debut against breakout Australian bantamweight Colby Thicknesse.

The fight has also been given extra weight given Volkanovski will also be a cornerman for fellow Octagon debutant Thicknesse, who has been the former champ’s main sparring partner for years.

The intriguing twist comes almost a year to the day since Ilia Topuria took UFC featherweight gold from Volkanovski via a brutal KO at UFC 298.

Despite recent suggestions the pair are now booked to rematch at UFC 314, Topuria told Australia’s Main Event on Wednesday morning that he would prefer to move up and chase UFC ‘champ champ’ status against Makhachev.

“This is something I want to do,” Topuria said when quizzed on a move up to face the company’s pound-for-pound No.1.

“The UFC knows that.

“But at the end of the day this is something they decide.

“They know how to run the business.

“They have a lot of experience.

“So if they tell me they want me to keep defending the (featherweight) belt, maybe I will do that.

“But if they let me go up, I will do that also.

“And be very glad.”

Asked about how a fight with himself and Makhachev goes, Topuria continued: “Islam, he’s a great fighter.

“Number one pound-for-pound for the people.

“For me though, it’s me.

“I’m the best fighter in the world.

“And I know I can do with him whatever I want to do.

“I know I’m much better than him.”

Topuria added however that if he does stay at featherweight, Volkanovski undeniably deserves another crack at his old crown.

“Yeah, if I stay in 145 no one deserves the fight more than him,” he said of Australia’s former champion.

“I have to give him the rematch because he deserves that.

“It’s not something I decide.

“He owns his shot.

“So if I stay at 145, I will do that.

“But I don’t want to do that again because I like Volk

“And I know what’s going to happen if we face each other again …”

So the same finish?

“Of course, it’s the same thing,” he shrugged.

“I represent the new generation of Mixed Martial Arts.

“I bring a different type of game to what he’s used to.

“So I know what’s going to happen.

“Maybe the next time though, instead of knocking him out I will submit him.

“Maybe I change that to have different type of clips.”

Speaking soon after with Fox Sports Australia, Volkanovski was asked about not only what is next for him, but his thoughts on Topuria’s various comments less than an hour earlier.

“Look, nothing is locked in for us,” he stressed. “

“But you’re hearing that from him, so it’s what it is.

“I think the UFC are still trying to see what is going on.

“Trying to figure that situation out.

“You’re also hearing the name Diego Lopes get thrown up for me.

“So if Topuria is going up for Islam, I’ll probably be facing Lopes.

“But again, nothing is locked in.”

Asked how badly he wanted another shot at Topuria, Volk continued: “Of course, I want that rematch.

“But if he wants to move up, and the UFC are interested, I’ll go and win the belt back and then we can both fight as champions.

“Or maybe he vacates, I become champion and then we do it again later.

“It just makes the fight even bigger.”

And as for him saying he will finish you again?

“Of course, he’s going to be cocky,” Volkanovski grinned.

“He knocked me out, he thinks he’ll do it again.

“And he has every right to think that.

“But I’m going out there to change that, get that belt back.

“So while he has every right to think like that, he won’t know until I show him.”

Earlier, and when talked turned to his own brother’s fight, Topuria admitted genuine interest in the storyline involving himself and fellow cornerman Volk.

“It’s very exciting to me that we are going to have Alex in his corner,” he said.

“But what he’s going to do for him?”

The same as you?

“Exactly,” he replied.

“But I know what he (Aleks) is going to do inside the cage.

“Listen to what I’m telling you.

“He’s the world champion

“It’s only a matter of time.”

Currently, fellow Georgian Merab Dvalishvili is the UFC bantamweight champ.

“Merab is dominating the division, so we’ll see what he’s going to do,” Topuria said.

“Maybe he moves to featherweight and becomes a double champ because maybe I move up to lightweight

“We’re going to find a way to let shine to everyone.”

UFC 312: Du Plessis v Strickland 2 | SUN 9 FEB | UFC middleweight king Dricus du Plessis is headed back Down Under for yet another title defence, with the South African set to face Sean Strickland in a blockbuster UFC 312 headliner in Sydney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.