UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski wants to finish his career not as Alexander “The Great”, but “The Greatest”. He admits he’s a long way away from being the greatest featherweight of all time for the time being, but when asked at the pre-UFC 273 press conference how he ranked the rest of the division, Volkanovski offered a controversial take.
He placed Jose Aldo at the top, and Conor McGregor – who catapulted to superstardom by knocking Aldo out in thirteen seconds – at the bottom.
Volkanovski: McGregor is Bottom of GOAT Featherweight List
“I believe I’ve still got more work to do. I give Aldo the respect. To be champion for as long as he was, he’s incredible. No matter the opposition that I’m facing like himself, Max [Holloway] and that, I’m fighting absolute killers, it’s pretty clear.
But at the same time, to be champion that long, there’s gonna be days you don’t show up, bad weight cuts, injuries, you name it. We’ve all done it and it’s a nightmare to not be on, on a day where you’ve got to go out there and defend your belt. For him to be a champion for so long, that’s saying something.”
As for “The Notorious”…
“You need [title] defenses, that’s the thing. I’m going to give him respect. The dude can fight. He made some bad decisions and all that type of stuff but he can fight. To take out Aldo in Aldo’s prime, that’s saying something as well. Aldo is still showing he’s still in his prime, he doesn’t age.
But again, I feel like I’ve definitely done a lot more than him so out of all the champions, I’d say he would have to be at the bottom of the list. He ain’t gonna like that but whatever.”
Alex Volkanovksi, it should be noted, has also defeated Jose Aldo, as well as Max Holloway – twice. Volkanovski remains undefeated in the UFC, and having taken out two of the three champions in the history of the featherweight division, there’s a big name on his list.
“Everyone’s going to throw [Conor McGregor] out there cause it’s the money fight and all that type of circus around it and all that but again this is a guy he’s held this belt in my division as well. I’ve taken out the other guys, I haven’t had a chance to do him.
Obviously, that’s something incredible but he ain’t making featherweight. If I’ve got to move up to take that title, I would, so that’s something that intrigues me. When you talk money, hype, all that type of stuff but not just that, someone else that’s held this [UFC title] and I want to take them all out. The legends of my division, I want to take them.”
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