UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovksi is so eager for his lightweight shot that he’s willing to step in as backup at UFC 280. The UFC 280 card will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between former champion Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, and Volkanovski appeared on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel to discuss his plan to step up at 155 pounds just to make sure nobody else gets the opportunity.
“I want to get back in. I’m actually thinking, believe it or not – I’m thinking of, because I’m still training, of being if they need a backup fighter, I’m gonna be the guy that’s gonna be there. … I’m telling them I want to be there. I want to be the backup. I’m going to be fit enough, I’m going to get enough of a camp to stay in good enough fitness, and I’ll do it. That’s the type of guy I am.
Volkanovski Planning on being UFC 280 Backup “Just So No One Takes That Opportunity From Me”
As I always say, I’ll make sure no one else can take that opportunity away from me. Because if someone else goes and does that, you know what I mean, then that puts me on the side and then I got to wait even longer. I don’t like that. I’m happy to sit there and if someone gets injured, or doesn’t make weight, or whatever, I’ll slip in.”
Volkanovski continued, reiterating his campaign to challenge the winner of the fight for the belt once his hand heals. Volkanovski’s predicted timeline for either winner affects his hope for the outcome. As much as he predicts a victory for Islam Makhachev, heir apparent to former lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, Volkanovsi hopes to see Oliveira with the belt because he expects the Brazilian to fight again sooner.
“Charles, I think if he wins, he fights early next year. Islam wins, I feel it’s more mid-year, and I don’t want to wait that long. Who do I expect holds that belt after that fight? Probably Islam. But, I’ll be there watching just in case I need to step in.”
Alexander Volkanovski’s reign as UFC featherweight champion has not been without controversy. Many fans felt that Volkanovski robbed former champ Max Holloway of a title in either one or two previous fights. His most recent performance against Holloway, however, saw Volkanovksi cemented as one of the most well-rounded martial artists on the UFC roster. He has long expressed a wish to reign in two weight divisions, and now seems to be on the cusp of a move up to the lightweight limit of 155 pounds.
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