ABU DHABI – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] is getting a second go at achieving his dream of becoming a two-division UFC champion.
The UFC featherweight titleholder is moving back up to 155 pounds to challenge champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 294 at Etihad Arena. Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) took the fight on 12 days’ notice, as he’s replacing an injured Charles Oliveira.
Although Volkanovski has a tough task in order to become UFC champ-champ, his dream is to be much more. Volkanovski wants to be a defending double champion, something that basically hasn’t been done on the men’s side of the UFC.
“That’s why I wanted to make a point of this whole, I can keep two divisions busy,” Volkanovski told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 294 media day. “That was a goal of mine. I’ve been saying it for a while. I want to do that. I understand what they want to do. They’re like, ‘Come on, we don’t want to hold two divisions.’ But I think I’ve proven that I wouldn’t.”
[lawrence-related id=2688710,2688634,2688606]
Volkanovski was rumored to fight in January prior to accepting the short-notice bout against Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) at UFC 294. He was expected to fight unbeaten contender Ilia Topuria.
The 35-year-old is confident he can win the UFC lightweight belt on Saturday and then make a quick turnaround and fight Topuria three months later.
“Obviously, I want to do January,” Volkanovski said. “I want to come out here, be double champ and keep two divisions busy. I don’t know when Gaethje is looking to get back in there, but there’s obviously a lot of exciting fights at lightweight. We’ll see what happens, but I do want to keep two divisions busy.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.