Alexander Volkanovski has a new pitch, and he might like it more than his first one.
The featherweight champion has been campaigning for a retirement superfight with Justin Gaethje since beating Movsar Evloev at UFC 333. He also named a Topuria rematch as a backup plan. Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, he agreed that Arman Tsarukyan has earned a lightweight title shot. He also offered to be the one to give it to him.
I do believe Arman should be fighting for the title. If I was in the lightweight division, and I was the champion, I’m fighting Arman, 100 percent. If Gaethje doesn’t want to do that, I’ll do it. That excites me.
Volkanovski isn’t worried about Tsarukyan’s grappling.
Everyone knows how I do against wrestlers. Everyone knows I can handle wrestlers. I believe that even as good as Arman is, I think he’s one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the UFC, you ain’t holding me down. Even Arman.
He would even give up his belt to make it happen.
I’ll vacate the featherweight belt; fight Arman for the title. There it is. I’m starting to get more excited for that than the Gaethje fight.
Volkanovski also suggested Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett as another strong lightweight fight. Everything depends on Gaethje, who is still healing from his title win over Topuria and hasn’t decided whether he will keep fighting.
If Gaethje stays and defends against Tsarukyan, Volkanovski said Aljamain Sterling deserves the next featherweight shot over Jean Silva, especially if Sterling wins his next fight.
