Alexander Volkanovski addressed the idea of moving up to 155 lbs once more for a champion vs. champion clash against lightweight king Justin Gaethje š£ļø "Of course I'd do it. I'm not gonna call for it. That's the type of champion I am. I think you need to earn it. But if the UFC wants to offer it? Of course I would. 100%." Volk noted that while Arman Tsarukyan rightfully deserves the next shot at lightweight, he wouldn't hesitate if the UFC came calling with the opportunity for two battle tested legends to throw down. According to @Kalshi there is a 51% chance that Alexander Volkanovski will remain the UFC Featherweight titleholder by the end of the year.
Alexander Volkanovski says he would move up to lightweight for a champion vs. champion fight with Justin Gaethje, but he won't campaign for it himself.
The UFC featherweight titleholder said he would take the fight "100%" if the promotion offered it, while stressing that a title shot has to be earned. "I'm not gonna call for it," he said, adding that this is the type of champion he is. He also acknowledged that Arman Tsarukyan rightfully deserves the next crack at the 155-pound belt, and said he wouldn't hesitate if the UFC instead came calling with a clash between two battle-tested legends.
Volkanovski, 38, holds a 28-4-0 record and sits third in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Australian, who trains at Freestyle Fighting Gym, lands 5.99 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.63 takedowns per 15 minutes, a notable number for a striker. At five-foot-six with a 71-inch reach, he has made a career of beating larger opponents.
Gaethje, 37, is the lightweight champion with a 28-5-0 record. The American out of Genesis Training Center is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy. He stands five-foot-eleven, 180 cm, with a 70-inch reach, so the size gap between the two would be modest despite the weight jump.
Why it matters
- A champion vs. champion bout would put two belts in play across divisions, something the UFC reserves for marquee matchups.
- Volkanovski's stance leaves Tsarukyan's claim to the next lightweight title shot untouched, but it keeps a second option on the table.
- Stylistically, Volkanovski's takedown volume and pressure would test Gaethje, who has built his reputation on striking output.
Volkanovski would not be the one pushing for the fight. The next move, he indicated, belongs to the UFC.
