Alexander Volkanovski was one of the crucial lively champions within the UFC again when he reigned as featherweight king, defending his throne 4 instances in a span of two years through the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that he’s again on the prime, beating Diego Lopes for the vacant title at UFC 314 on April 12, he plans on replicating that.
Volkanovski was doubted by some given his age and the actual fact he’s misplaced back-to-back by knockout, falling in entrance of Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, however then grew to become the primary fighter older than 35 to win a UFC belt below 155 kilos in Miami.
“I’m not going to do something too loopy,” Volkanovski stated on the post-fight press convention when requested for his future plans. “Everybody’s going to all the time stand up me for that brief discover. I’ll do it once more, you already know what I imply? That’s simply how it’s. Lots of people are going to hold on, however that’s who I’m. This man that challenges himself when his again’s towards a wall and all the chances are stacked towards him, I’m nonetheless attempting to offer it a crack.
“And that very same man with that very same mindset and mentality turns up within the gymnasium each single f*cking day. If I’m not going to try this shit, I wouldn’t be the champion I’m. I’m okay with that. There’s no knock in any respect on my workforce for letting me do this. It was my resolution. They backed me and let me do it as a result of they know who I’m and what I’m able to. It didn’t prove, however like I stated, that’s simply, I will be cussed.”
With bruises throughout his face following a five-round battle with Lopes, the Australian star left it up for the promotion’s matchmakers to resolve when his subsequent combat will happen, however didn’t sound that concerned with ready till September to defend it towards Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez on the subsequent Noche UFC pay-per-view in Guadalajara.
“I imply, if all the pieces’s good, I’d most likely wish to go quickly,” Volkanovski stated. “Faster than that, to be trustworthy. That’s most likely the second combat. So perhaps it may be, if I’m good, perhaps I get the combat, perhaps July or September. Yeah, we are able to perhaps slot in. Movsar [Evloev], in the event that they need to do this, in the event that they need to rapidly go and I really feel good, perhaps fast turnaround with Movsar if I don’t have busted arms. We’ll see. Like I stated, that was my plan. Bang, bang, bang. However I didn’t count on to get hit this a lot. Credit score to f*cking Diego.”
“I’ve bought to have a look at a couple of issues,” he added. “I’ll get X-rays, I’ll take a look right away. If all the pieces’s all good, cuts will heal fairly fast. Give me a few weeks and I’ll be again at it. I’ll nonetheless be doing stuff even after I get again residence. Like stated, I’m an expert, I’m disciplined. I’ll maintain working. I’ll discuss to the UFC and we’ll see what occurs.”
Rodriguez, a former interim champion himself, beat former Bellator king Patricio Pitbull earlier that night time at UFC 314, however then misplaced t o Volkanovski through third-round stoppage when attempting to unify golds. Rodriguez rebounded with the Pitbull win after dropping two straight towards Volkanovski and Brian Ortega, and “The Nice” is uncertain if “Pantera” deserves to be subsequent as a substitute of undefeated Evloev.
“Look, he’s a superb dude. I like him lots,” Volkanovski stated of Rodriguez. “If the UFC needs to offer it to him, I ain’t gonna cease that for him. I’ll be trustworthy, earlier than that combat, I didn’t suppose if he received, he can be getting a shot. I’ll be trustworthy, that didn’t come to thoughts. However now that he’s calling, I’m not going to be the one to say no. I’m going to go away all the pieces to the UFC.”
“Clearly, you’ve bought guys like Movsar, who’s undefeated. I’d like to take that zero,” he continued. “We’ve bought to see what the UFC say. I even seen him tweeting that he needs to combat somebody in Might and doing all this type of stuff, so perhaps he’s had the chats they usually need him to have yet one more combat. So I don’t know that state of affairs, however I’ll see how issues are. I’d like to say I need to get straight again in there. I nonetheless do. However I’m gonna need to perhaps take a look at a few issues.”
When it’s all stated and achieved, changing into UFC champion once more and holding the belt isn’t a very powerful for Volkanovski.
“To be trustworthy, it’s not in regards to the title,” Volkanovski stated. “It’s probably not in regards to the belt, however profitable, staying on prime, being profitable, you already know what I imply? This represents much more. I’m within the gymnasium busting my ass day-after-day. You’re sacrificing a lot. What am I doing it for? Clearly to be the very best. This represents that, which is nice.
“[This belt] is simply gonna sit within the closet like the opposite one, you already know what imply? However what it represents and what I’ve achieved is that’s particular. That’s extra particular to me. Me taking this again to my household, mates… Perhaps that’s why it hasn’t correctly settled in. As a result of I need to soak it up with my household and mates and everyone again residence as a result of meaning extra to me. After I see all that, that’s what actually hits for me. This wrapped round me, that don’t actually give a f*ck, to be trustworthy.”
