WASHINGTON – Alexander Volkanovski admits the process of his next UFC featherweight title defense becoming official is taking a bit longer than anticipated, but he understands why and expects news soon.
With Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 commanding nearly every bit of the promotion’s attention, fighters like Volkanovski (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) have been required to preach patience waiting on the next move for their own careers.
Volkanovski gets it, and he will be in attendance at the White House card to support his teammate, Mauricio Ruffy, who clashes with Michael Chandler in a key lightweight bout. Once UFC Freedom 250 comes and goes, Volkanovski expects things to develop.
“Obviously I want something announced – not even announced, I want it locked in, as well,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “But you’ve got to understand they have a schedule they need to keep with a lot of champions, a lot of other people fighting, a lot of bigger events, with this one and obviously Conor (McGregor) fighting (at UFC 329).
“Maybe once they get this out of the way they can start putting energy everywhere else. I was obviously looking for anywhere from August to September. September is being brought up a lot with everyone. There are dates that look good. Whatever works, we’ll see.”
If Volkanovski gets a September fight, which would likely be UFC 331, he would be happy. He’s bracing himself to have to wait beyond his 38th birthday on Sept. 29, though, and actually doesn’t hate the idea of getting another defense to his name as he grows older.
“Before (my birthday) would’ve been great, but wouldn’t it be pretty cool to fight at 38, as well?” Volkanovski said. “To defend the belt at 38. So maybe we wait until after that just so it sounds better.”
As far as who will be standing across the octagon as he seeks a second defense in his second reign as 145-pound king, Volkanovski doesn’t think there will be much mystery this time around.
After previously expressing his desire to fight unbeaten contenders Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy earlier this year, the UFC instead decided to have him rematch Diego Lopes at UFC 325 while pairing Evloev and Murphy against one another.
Evloev (20-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) won that meeting by majority decision over Murphy (17-1-1 MMA, 9-1-1 UFC) in March to further upgrade his perfect record, and Volkanovski thinks the Russian has done more than enough to challenge for his strap.
“You’ve always got to be ready for a curveball,” Volkanovski said. “It’s a crazy sport. That’s why everyone loves it. But at the same time, obviously Movsar is the most deserving No. 1 contender. He’s been No. 1 contender for a while, and everyone knows me as champion. I want to fight the No. 1 guy.
“I want to fight the guy who deserves it, and it is Movsar. That’s what I’m pushing for, and I’m pretty sure that’s what the UFC wants anyway, so I think that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
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