Tag: Alexander Volkanovski

Diego Lopes reacts to UFC champ Ilia Topuria’s call for 155 move: ‘He has work to do in the division’

Diego Lopes gives his opinion on UFC featherweight champ Ilia Topuria wanting to move up to lightweight.

[autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] caused many reactions with his comments on wanting to leave the UFC featherweight division behind for a move up to lightweight.

UFC contender [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] was one of the many who were caught off guard by the 145-pound champion’s bold remarks. Lopes, who’s knocking on the door of a title shot at featherweight, doesn’t care if Topuria stays or leaves the division. However, he does find Topuria’s potential move premature.

“From my point of view, I think he has work to do in the division,” Lopes told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “We have several contenders that have their sight on him, and I’m one of those. I would like a fight against him, and if he stays in the division, that’s a fight that I’ll look for. But if he is really leaving, he needs to make that decision, and let’s see what happens with the division.”

Given Topuria’s success in winning and defending the UFC featherweight title, plus the number of rising contenders in the weight class, Lopes admits he was surprised by Topuria’s recent comments.

Still, Lopes is still not sold that the move is 100 percent happening next. But if it does come to fruition, he’d like for the UFC to match him uop against former champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag].

“I think those comments caught everyone by surprise since he had said he was going to defend his title against Volkanovski for his next fight,” Lopes explained.” But who knows, we don’t know what’s going to happen with the division, and we’re even asking the UFC what’s going to happen, and we haven’t gotten an answer, so maybe he’s losing his patience and that’s why he made that comments about wanting to move to 155 to see if something happens or UFC gives him an answer.

“If he truly is going to move up to 155, I’d like to fight against Volkanovski – whether it’s a title fight or not or an interim title. I’d want to fight him. If he’s going to be left without a fight, I’m here.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

Diego Lopes challenges Alexander Volkanovski to UFC showdown: ‘You can pick the date and location’

Diego Lopes hopes a UFC showdown vs. Alexander Volkanovski is next on his agenda.

Can [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag] insert himself into the immediate UFC featherweight title picture? He certainly hopes so.

Wednesday, Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) issued a challenge on X to former UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), the fighter thought to be the next in line for current titleholder Ilia Topuria.

“@Alexandervolkanovski, if Ilia going to 155, let’s meet in the Octagon,” Lopes wrote. “You can pick the date and location.”

Lopes’ post comes after an interview surfaced where Topuria indicated he might seek a jump to lightweight for his next bout, in which he case he’d vacate the featherweight title. Topuria said the promotion indicated the promotion had mentioned April for a return date at a potential show in Miami.

Should the UFC follow through with the plan of Topuria vs. Volkanovski, it’s unclear where that leaves Lopes. For Topuria’s recent title defense vs. Max Holloway, Lopes weighed in as a backup fighter – something he could do again. However, hungry contenders Movsar Evloev and Jose Emmett are among others waiting in the wings, as well.

UFC champ Ilia Topuria wants lightweight title shot vs. Islam Makhachev

UFC star Ilia Topuria wants a shot at Islam Makhachev in a champion vs. champion fight.

It looks like UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] has lost interest in a potential rematch with [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag], and is now hoping for a champion vs. champion bout.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who was keen on fighting Volkanovski a second time following his successful title defense against Max Holloway in October, is now saying he’d like a bigger challenge for his return to the octagon.

“I’m on the verge of making some decisions, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” Topuria said in Spanish on El Chiriguito. “I’m closer to making a fight with (Islam) Makhachev, that’s what interest me the most.

“My ideal rival needs to have something that has me fighting for something. I need to conquer something. I need something to motivate me. Do a rematch (with Volkanovski) for what? I already beat him. ‘Oh, is that I want another chance for,’ Ok, you’re better than me. That’s it.”

Topuria would ideally like to move up to 155 pounds and take on Makhachev. However, Makhachev must first defend his title in his scheduled rematch against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles.

“Getting a second title and fighting for something that builds your legacy. That’s something I’ve set for myself,” Topuria said.

As far as a timeline, “El Matador” is hoping to get back in the cage sometime in spring.

“April or May, April or May,” Topuria said when asked about his ideal return. “It also interests me to be active at the same time, but the weight cut is very annoying, to be honest.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones must fight Tom Aspinall to be considered ‘proper double champ’

Alexander Volkanovski thinks fighting Tom Aspinall would add to Jon Jones’ legacy in a pivotal way.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] believes fighting [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] would add to [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]’ legacy in a pivotal way.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Jones has dismissed interim heavyweight champion Aspinall and doesn’t think he needs to unify the titles. However, Volkanovski believes otherwise.

“If you want to be a heavyweight champion, you want to claim that crown,” Volkanovski said of Jones on his YouTube channel. “You did claim it. It was a vacant belt, and you fought Gane for it, and you got it. But it’s going to be hard to convince me you’re defending champ if you don’t fight Tom Aspinall while he’s the interim champ and the biggest threat. Does Jon Jones even need to do this? No.

“He’s already got an incredible legacy, but if you want to claim the heavyweight division and say you were a proper double champ, you’ve got to fight Tom Aspinall. If you really want that on your resume, saying that ‘I’m the best heavyweight while I was there,’ you have to fight Tom Aspinall. I think he’s definitely the biggest threat, the wrestling, he can be dangerous everywhere, and he’s a legit heavyweight.”

Instead, Jones is eyeing a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira – a fight he sees bigger for his legacy than Aspinall. Volkanovski disagrees with that part but acknowledges that Pereira is a bigger money fight.

“I know there’s talk of him maybe doing a Pereira fight,” Volkanovski continued. “He’s probably in a position where, ‘I don’t need to add to my legacy. I want bigger fights.’ Pereira is a massive name right now, so maybe that’s what he’s chasing, and he’s clever. He knows Tom Aspinall is a way bigger threat.”

[lawrence-related id=2785626,2785579,2785561,2785554]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Alexander Volkanovski’s coach against Ilia Topuria’s pursuit for two UFC titles: ‘You’re just holding up divisions’

Alexander Volkanovski’s coach, Joe Lopez, doesn’t think UFC featherweight champ Ilia Topuria has earned the right to fight for a second belt just yet.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]’s coach, [autotag]Joe Lopez[/autotag], doesn’t think UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] has earned the right to fight for a second belt just yet.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who’s coming off back-to-back knockouts of Volkanovski and Max Holloway, expressed interest in moving up to lightweight to challenge champ Islam Makhachev.

Volkanovski is currently campaigning for a title-fight rematch with Topuria and is even willing to face Diego Lopes for an interim title if he doesn’t get his wish immediately. Volkanovski failed in his bid to become dual champion when he challenged Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 284 but not before defending his featherweight title four times.

“That’s great (Topuria eyeing Makhachev), but you’ve got to have – like with anybody, you’ve got to have at least five or six title defenses before you start looking at doubling up,” Lopez told Submission Radio. “You’re just holding up divisions. When you’ve cleared out a division, then you’ve got the right to jump up a division.

“Until then, you’ve just got to fight the cause in your division, you know? I guess it’s like jumping the queue, and you want to have the title shot before somebody else that’s above you, you know? But it’s just human nature, I guess. Everybody wants that double-champ status because it’s very rare to get.”

Volkanovski pushed Makhachev to the brink in their first lightweight title fight at UFC 284 but fell short. He then defended his featherweight title a fifth time by finishing Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290, which earned him a short-notice opportunity against Makhachev a second time at UFC 294. However, Volkanovski was knocked out in the first round.

Topuria went as far as saying he’d be the first to submit Makhachev. While Lopez thinks it’s a bold claim, he doesn’t fault Topuria for his confidence.

“Islam, he’s very good striking, and he’s got good wrestling, too,” Lopez said. “And he’s the bigger man, so who knows? Look, you can’t take that way from Ilia because what he’s said, he’s been doing. So, he might just be the first guy to do it (submit Makhachev). So, you can’t take that away from him.”

[lawrence-related id=2782808,2782675,2782579,2782294]

Alexander Volkanovski: Ilia Topuria wouldn’t submit Islam Makhachev, but he can knock him out

Alexander Volkanovski thinks UFC champ Ilia Topuria has the power to put anyone away – at featherweight and lightweight.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] thinks UFC champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] has the power to put anyone away – at featherweight and lightweight.

Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is coming off back-to-back knockouts of Volkanovski and most recently Max Holloway in Saturday’s UFC 308 main event in Abu Dhabi. Topuria wants a shot at lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and is confident he can submit him.

Volkanovski isn’t sure about the submitting him part but definitely won’t rule out Topuria’s chance of catching Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) on the feet.

“Submission, I don’t see that happening,” Volkanovski said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “Can he knock Islam out? Of course. He can knock anyone out in them two divisions (featherweight and lightweight). I’ve always said, and it’s going to be the same for Islam, the only way I see these guys like myself losing is getting caught. Who can catch these? It’s guys like Ilia that can do that.

“He could go out there and land, but going out there and beating Islam or even submitting him and controlling him, I think that is very, very unlikely. But definitely could catch him. Ilia can catch anyone in them two divisions, so you can never count out Ilia in them fights, but they are going to be tough fights. If he can’t knock them out, they’re tough fights for him. Very tough fights.”

Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) has been taking time off ever since losing his featherweight title to Topuria at UFC 298 in February. He appears to have gotten UFC CEO Dana White’s approval on an immediate rematch, but Topuria and his team are not keen on fighting at UFC 312 Feb. 8 in Sydney.

Both Volkanovski and Diego Lopes have openly said they would fight each other on that date for the interim title if Topuria opts against a relatively quick turnaround.

[lawrence-related id=2782579,2782639,2782569,2782559]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Alexander Volkanovski says UFC 308 cage entry was his idea, willing to fight Ilia Topuria in Spain

Following UFC 308, Alexander Volkanovski explains why he chose to enter the cage and gives his thoughts on a rematch vs. Ilia Topuria.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] calls next.

Minutes after UFC 308‘s main event Saturday saw [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] become the first to knock out Max Holloway, the previous featherweight titleholder was in the cage.

Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) said the idea to be seen next to the freshly victorious Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) was all his. He wanted the world to know who is the next 145-pound title challenger.

“I told the UFC I wanted to go in,” Volkanovski told ESPN. “They let me do that, so I appreciate that. Dana (White), Hunter (Campbell), thank you. At the same time, he goes, ‘I want to let him (have his moment. I’ll give him his moment. I’ll be respectful because his family is in there.’ I’m like, ‘Mate, I’ve been respectful. I’ve been getting along. I’ve been hugging his family the whole time. We’re good. I’m going to go in there, give him his moment, but at the same time let everyone know what we’re doing, just build that fight up a little bit, just enough to let everyone know I’m next. But at the same time, give him his respect.'”

[lawrence-related id=2782389,2782291]

With the UFC headed to Sydney in February and potentially debuting in Spain later in 2025, it’s unclear where the promotion will place this rematch. Whether it’s home soil or enemy territory, you can count Volkanovski in.

“I’d love it,” Volkanovski said. “They’re talking about Madrid, the stadium and all that. Of course. Everyone knows I don’t mind being in enemy territories. I think I’ll be well-loved anyway, maybe. I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll probably still get booed. At the same time, he deserves to fight where he wants to. It’s just the timing.”

According to comments made by Dana White after UFC 308, however, it does appear the rematch between Topuria and Volkanovski will indeed be the next fight.

Despite their trash talk in the lead-up to their first bout in February, which Topuria won by knockout, Volkanovski said there’s a lot of mutual respect underneath any fight promotion put forth by the champion.

“(The win over Holloway was) impressive,” Volkanovski said. “The fight was sort of going. I knew the first couple of rounds were going to be competitive. Then, I thought maybe Max would start using that experience and maybe start to slow Ilia. But Ilia ended up finding the finish in the third round which is impressive. No one has ever done that. He said he was going to do it in the first.

“But no matter what round you do it in, that’s impressive. Because no one has done that to Max. You’ve got to give all respect to Ilia to go out there and do that. I went in there, shook hands with the bloke and wanted to give him his moment, but let him know that I’m next. Let’s just find that day. … Nothing but respect for him and well done. But he’s a solid, dude, man. He’s a respectable dude.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Dana White indicates Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2 likely next UFC featherweight title fight

How do you say no to Alexander Volkanovski is the question Dana White asked the media after UFC 308.

ABU DHABI – How does the UFC say no to [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag]?

That’s the question Dana White posed to the media after the conclusion of UFC 308 on Saturday at Etihad Arena.

Of course, White is talking about the next title challenger for UFC featherweight champion [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], who furthered his stardom with a massive knockout of Max Holloway in the card’s main event.

After the fight, Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) was brought in the cage as UFC commentator Daniel Cormier interviewed Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC). The move isn’t always done by the promotion, but is usually indicative of its future plans when it does occur.

“Volkanovski’s one of those guys,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “We’re not going to say no to Volkanovski.”

[lawrence-related id=2782280,2782122]

The two top featherweights collided back in February and Topuria won by knockout. Volkanovski has not fought since and is currently on a two-fight skid, given that he previously was knocked out in a lightweight title challenge vs. Islam Makhachev.

While other top contenders, such as UFC 308 backup fighter Diego Lopes, have emerged in the title conversation, White indicated Volkanovski’s past as a company man, willing to bail the promotion out of difficult situations has nudged the UFC in his favor.

“He’s been that guy for us any time we needed him,” White said. “He’s been on this run like (Israel) Adesanya and like Alex (Pereira) is on right now. When things don’t go our way and you’ve got to call a guy, Volkanovski has always been that guy. He really was. For him to ask for it, I don’t think anybody in this room is going, ‘Oh, this is ridiculous’ or crazy. Who wouldn’t want to see it again?”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Video replay: UFC 308 Q&A with Merab Dvalishvili, Alexander Volkanovski in Abu Dhabi

Check out a Q&A with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili and former featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

A champion and former titleholder were on hand ahead of the UFC 308 ceremonial weigh-ins Friday to meet and greet fans and let them inside their processes.

New bantamweight champ [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] and former featherweight champ [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] took part in a fan Q&A with moderator and UFC broadcast voice John Gooden at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, which also hosts Saturday’s card (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).

Check out the full Q&A with Dvalishvili and Volkanovski above.

UFC 308 lineup

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 2 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway – for featherweight title
  • Khamzat Chimaev vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic
  • Dan Ige vs. Lerone Murphy
  • Shara Magomedov vs. Armen Petrosyan

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 10 a.m. ET)

  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Geoff Neal
  • Myktybek Orolbai vs. Mateusz Rebecki
  • Brunno Ferreira vs. Abus Magomedov
  • Chris Barnett vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu
  • Farid Basharat vs. Victor Hugo
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Carlos Leal
  • Ibo Aslan vs. Rafael Cerqueira
  • Ismail Naurdiev vs. Bruno Silva

Alexander Volkanovski wants Ilia Topuria rematch in Sydney in ‘perfect world’; Topuria shuts it down

Alexander Volkanovski hopes he can get the opportunity to rematch Ilia Topuria at UFC 312, but that doesn’t look good.

[autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] hopes he can get the opportunity to rematch [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag] at UFC 312.

But first featherweight champion Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) has to get past Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 308 (pay-per-view, ESPN+) headliner at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Volkanovski says the UFC promised him a title fight next, and if Topuria is victorious, “The Great” will look to avenge his loss against the man who dethroned him. After more than a year off, Volkanovski is eager to return at UFC 312, which takes place Feb. 8 in Sydney.

”Perfect world is Ilia in Sydney,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “But my head’s telling me if Ilia wins, he’s not fighting probably straight away, and he’s not fighting in Sydney definitely. Max would fight in Sydney, but he’ll probably do BMF and probably fight featherweight a bit later. So, while that’s happening maybe I dance for an interim or something.

“So again, it’s just – the only reason why I bring that up is just because I want to fight soon. … I’ve waited long enough, I’ve rested, did what I had to do, but now ready to get back in there. So, perfect world would be Ilia in February but in Sydney, but I just don’t know if that’s likely.”

Volkanovski’s inkling was correct. Topuria said if the pair do end up running things back, it will be on his home turf.

“That’s never going to happen,” Topuria said during Wednesday’s UFC 308 media day. “I’m the champion, and if you want to fight for the title again, it has to be in Madrid instead of fighting in Australia in front of your people. Why I would give you that advantage?”

[lawrence-related id=2780884,2780762,2742679,2779260]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.