Alexander Volkanovski confirms plans for short-notice turnaround against Ilia Topuria: “I don’t need a break”
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is still planning to fight Ilia Topuria in January.
‘The Great’ is fresh off his short-notice clash with Islam Makhachev on Saturday night. Just two weeks ahead of UFC 294, Alexander Volkanovski stepped up for a rematch with the lightweight champion. Famously, the featherweight titleholder was reportedly about to enter training camp for a January bout with Ilia Topuria.
Instead, he moved up to lightweight over the weekend and suffered a first-round knockout loss. Following the defeat, Alexander Volkanovski admitted that he was also struggling with his mental health prior to the bout. That led to many requesting the featherweight champion forgo a short-notice turnaround against Ilia Topuria.
However, those pleas weren’t heard. On his YouTube channel earlier today, Alexander Volkanovski confirmed his plans to return in January for a title defense against Ilia Topuria. Obviously, ‘The Great’ would need to pass multiple medical checks to make that fast turnaround, given his knockout loss.
“I talked to the UFC, and said to keep me busy,” Alexander Volkanovski stated on his YouTube channel following his defeat. “I need to fight, a lot of people are like ‘He needs a break!’ I don’t need a break, I want to get back in camp. Obviously, I need to talk to doctors, make sure there’s no concussion, the stitches, and whatnot, but I want to get in camp. Like I said, I am the best version of myself inside and outside of the cage, whenever I have clear direction.”
He continued, “Clear direction is me having a fight. January still looks great to me, Ilia Topuria is obviously a very exciting fight. I can shift all of my attention to that. You’re going to see a better version of myself in January, I promise that.”
What do you make of these comments? Do you think Alexander Volkanovski should fight Ilia Topuria in January?
