Alexander Volkanovski respects Ilia Topuria for vacating UFC title

MIAMI – Alexander Volkanovski admits he didn’t anticipate Ilia Topuria to relinquish his UFC featherweight belt.

Topuria opted to depart his 145-pound title behind for a transfer as much as light-weight. Consequently, Volkanovski (26-5 MMA, 13-4 UFC) will battle Diego Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) for the vacant title in Saturday’s UFC 314 major occasion (ESPN+ pay-per-view) at Kaseya Heart from Miami.

“The Nice” figured Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) would try and chase dual-champion standing.

“I used to be fairly shocked with him vacating,” Volkanovski advised MMA Junkie and different reporters Wednesday at UFC 314 media day. “I knew he wished to chase the light-weight title, to maneuver up. I heard him saying that, however I didn’t suppose he would quit the belt that simple. I assumed he would try to maintain it. That’s why you’ve received to have respect for that, for him to not need to maintain up a division.”

Volkanovski misplaced his featherweight title to Topuria by knockout at UFC 298 final February. After Topuria defended his title with a knockout of Max Holloway at UFC 308, he welcomed the concept of a rematch with Volkanovski, however wound up altering divisions.

“Clearly I wished that struggle again. I wished to get that win again,” Volkanovski mentioned. “I hoped to struggle a bit later final 12 months, October, possibly December-ish. It was beginning to drag on. I received to a degree the place I used to be like, ‘All proper, if he’s going to attend round, I’ll do an interim in opposition to somebody after which we’ll struggle.’ It received to that time. So it wasn’t a shock that he moved up, however shock that he vacated.”

Volkanovski isn’t ruling out the chance to get the possibility to avenge his loss to Topuria.

“I plan on being that lively, defending champ,” Volkanovski mentioned. “As soon as he’s carried out his struggle, if he was to win the belt, think about us working it again, each champions after me having this little title reign. I’m anticipating to have a few fights by the point he fights (once more), to be sincere – that’s how lively I need to be. So you possibly can simply think about how large that rematch could possibly be. Getting that win again, continues to be a chance not too far in.”