Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has issued a response to the surging Diego Lopes’s callout for a December struggle reserving.
Lopes defeated Volkanovski’s former rival, Brian Ortega, at UFC 306 earlier this month. After a loss to Movsar Evloev in his short-notice UFC debut, Lopes has received 5 straight fights and has emerged as one of many prime featherweight stars.
Lopes is on the verge of a possible UFC featherweight title shot after the win over Ortega. However, Volkanovski stands in his manner, as the previous titleholder is predicted to be subsequent in line for the belt.
Lopes not too long ago pitched a conflict with Volkanovski to find out the following opponent for the Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway victor. He needs to face Volkanovski in December, possible at UFC 310, slated to happen on the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas.
Alexander Volkanovski shrugs at Diego Lopes’s December callout
In a latest interview with Submission Radio, Volkanovski responded to Lopes’s callout.
“We’ve already talked to the UFC. Clearly, the title struggle, I’m preventing for the title struggle and that’s what it was type of all the time going to be,” Volkanovski stated. “I get what he’s saying. If it was going to be him subsequent, one thing must occur to one of many guys from [Topuria vs. Holloway]. Whether or not they get injured or transfer divisions, or whatnot. [If] there’s an interim title or one thing like that. I’m not scared or something like that, however I’m preventing for the title, and that’s that…
“However you by no means know what occurs. The man’s a fighter, Max [Holloway]’s obtained a BMF belt. If Max wins, what’s his subsequent struggle? Is he defending the featherweight belt right away or BMF?” Volkanovski continued. “So that might open the door for an interim [title fight] or one thing. We may do this, however I’m preventing the [Topuria vs. Holloway] winner. That’s one thing I’ve already mentioned with the UFC from the get-go. I stated I used to be going to attend…clearly, he’s ready now the place he’s attempting to get himself proper there. Which he needs to be, I’d be doing the very same factor, and I did. Good on him, nevertheless it doesn’t actually make sense for me until one thing occurs to the opposite two.”
Volkanovski hasn’t competed since a knockout loss to Topuria at UFC 298. After back-to-back knockout defeats, he’s taken an prolonged hiatus from competitors, though he may return by yr’s finish.
For now, it seems Lopes’s try to lure Volkanovski again to the cage was a failed path. However, the 2 thrilling featherweights may doubtlessly meet sooner quite than later.
