UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski might have lost when he tried to move up a weight class and take Islam Makhachev’s title, but that won’t stop him trying again.
Volkanovski recently took to his YouTube channel to discuss this weekend’s co-main event, a title eliminator between former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira and surging contender Beneil Dariush.
Alexander Volkanovski Still Wants UFC Lightweight Title
Volkanovski stated that he’s still hungry for 155-pound gold. “Let’s see what’s next for the winner, because you know I still want that lightweight title.
It’s something that’s definitely there. It’s just the timing. Does the winner of this one quickly get a fight in then I fight the winner a little bit later? The timing still works for that. So, whatever the best timing is, you know I’m up for.”
Volkanovski will likely need to wait, as the winner of this fight will probably go on to challenge Makhachev for the title later in the year. Who does Volkanovski see facing Makhachev?
“This is the right fight for both of them in their careers. I think Charles is looking for a statement to make on the next guy. Beneil is on an absolute tear at the moment, looking incredible, showing his skill, his fight IQ. It’s gonna be a fun one.
Beneil’s the favorite and he probably should be. We all know Charles can get the finish, submission and TKO. Submitting Dariush, I feel, is gonna be hard. I think he’s got a pretty slick style, he’s a durable dude, he’s resilient.
He’s got all the right stuff that makes him a very good competitor, which is gonna be very hard to just submit a guy like that. Especially when he’s a black belt himself.
That can definitely happen but if I had to take a pick, probably best value is to go with Charles. Maybe the TKO. I can see that happening. Beneil can finish Charles as well. My pick would be a Charles Oliveira TKO. Charles has something to prove.
He wants that title back and I think he’s gonna go out there and come swinging. So, he’s gonna really look for that finish. Beneil again, very durable, very tough, he’s hard to finish, but it could happen. It’s gonna be a very close fight. I’m almost 50-50 on it.
The odds probably favor Charles and that’s why I’m leaning to him as a pick, leaning to Beneil for the win. Tough one to call.”
