Alex Volkanovski Maps Out UFC Comeback With Four High-Profile Opponents
Volkanovski Breaks His Silence on UFC Future.
Alex Volkanovski is one of the most admired personalities in mixed martial arts. The Australian fighter was a featherweight champion who dominated the title for several years. He has been able to defend his crown against the elite and establish a reputation as being one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC. But in the recent past, he had to rethink his course. Losses to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria had fans questioning his future.
Volkanovski has now put the speculation to an end. He has already announced his strategy to come back, and he has identified four of his opponents. The news has been controversial among commentators and supporters, as it is a road of danger, competition, and repentance.
The roadmap of Volkanovski is characterized by four names.
Volkanovski affirmed that his future will be more of a featherweight. He confessed that his frame is better suited to the 145-pound division than lightweight. Although he still has the ambition to win gold at 155 pounds, he realizes that his body is most effective in featherweight.
Ilia Topuria is the first name on his list. The Spanish-Georgian fighter conquered Volkanovski earlier this year to obtain the featherweight belt. That outcome terminated the long-running reign of Volkanovski and established a strong competition. A rematch gives both men a chance. In the case of Volkanovski, it is a matter of regaining his crown and showing that he is still worthy of the top. In the case of Topuria, it is proving his championship against an experienced champion.
Next comes Max Holloway. Volkanovski has been greatly challenged by the Hawaiian, and three of their memorable fights are already recorded in the books. Although Volkanovski won all three, all the fights were controversial and razor-thin. Holloway is still active, and he keeps winning prestigious competitions. A fourth fight would not only stretch one of the most compelling rivalries in the UFC, but it would also give both men another opportunity to make their legacies.
The third one is Yair Rodriguez. His unconventional punching also makes the Mexican fighter one of the most unpredictable players in the division. Volkanovski admires the creativity of Rodriguez, but he feels that he can demonstrate his technical superiority in such a fight. Their divergent styles may make it a spectacle, and this is a commercially viable fight for the UFC.
The last name is Islam Makhachev. Volkanovski has not shut the door on the rivalry with the lightweight champion, although he lost two times. He acknowledged that he might make another attempt at lightweight in the future, but timing is the key. Volkanovski is aware that going after Makhachev once more without adequate preparation may hurt his future career. At this point, he will focus on featherweight, but the prospect of redemption at lightweight is still in his long-term plan.
Volkanovski Shakes the Featherweight Division with His Plan.
The strategy by Volkanovski reinvents the short-term scenery of the featherweight division. An immediate rematch with Topuria would immediately feature on a big UFC card. It would have international appeal, as the popularity of the champion in Europe has been on the rise, and Volkanovski has a fan base in Australia. The UFC lives on strong stories, and this plot has it all: revenge and generational conflict.
The division would also be shaken by a new competition with Holloway. Even though critics doubt the necessity of the fourth fight, history between the two ensures coverage. The initial three encounters were technical genius, and another chapter may be a co-main or even a headline bout as the time of the year approaches.
Rodriguez offers another type of influence. His Mexican background guarantees a good fan base, particularly as the UFC expands in Latin America. Rodriguez vs. Volkanovski would be a main event to headline a card in Mexico or the United States, providing sporting interest and market development.
Makhachev, though, is the bigger influence outside of featherweight. In case Volkanovski one day decides to go back to lightweight, the UFC will have another crossover star who has the potential to attract attention across divisions. That prospect makes the lightweight story still lively, although the attention is still at 145 pounds.
Volkanovski’s Target List Reaction by Fans.
Volkanovski had a lot of response to his comments. His candor in acknowledging that lightweight is not his natural habitat was acclaimed by many. They perceived such self-awareness as professionalism. Social media was full of speculations on who would be the first opponent.
The most popular option was the rematch between Topuria and Topuria. The fans claimed that Volkanovski should be given an opportunity to regain his title. They feel that his experience would enable him to adapt and give a better performance during a second meeting.
The Holloway option divided the opinion. Others claimed that the competition is over, and others were excited about a fourth match. The fans noted that Holloway has earned his way back through successive victories. Critics believed that new pairings ought to be given precedence.
The mention by Rodriguez created interest. His unpredictable style is a favorite among fans, but there was some concern that he would be unable to cope with the nonstop attack of Volkanovski. In any case, the fireworks prospect was thrilling to many who are action hungry.
The name of Makhachev was both welcomed and criticized. Fans lauded the bravery of Volkanovski, who still thought of that mountain. Opponents asked him not to make another attempt, as they feared that he would be subject to another battle. However, the mystery surrounding their relationship would make any subsequent confrontation a big event.
The next chapter by Volkanovski is a high-stakes game.
The plan of returning by Alex Volkanovski is ambitious and clear. He plans to reacquire his featherweight title, and he begins with Ilia Topuria. He is also willing to rekindle his rivalry with Max Holloway, and he is also looking at Yair Rodriguez as a style challenge. In the long run, he has not lost his intention to see Islam Makhachev once more, but that will be postponed.
This roadmap preconditions some of the most interesting fights of the UFC in the next few years. Whether Volkanovski will be back on the throne or will become a respected veteran seeking new challenges, his appearance will ensure that there will be excitement. It is now the waiting game of fans and analysts to know which direction he would take first with the official matchmaking of the UFC.