Alexander Volkanovski targets UFC 312 return in Sydney: 'Anything with gold in it I’ll be happy'
Alexander Volkanovski would love a title fight at UFC 312 in Australia.
The UFC returns to Sydney on Feb. 8 for a pay-per-view event at Qudos Bank Arena, and Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) is hoping for an opportunity to reclaim the featherweight belt on home soil.
Champion Ilia Topuria defends his title against Max Holloway in the UFC 308 main event on Oct. 26. Volkanovski says he’s been promised the winner, but if the champion can’t make a relatively quick turnaround for UFC 312, he’s open to facing Diego Lopes for the interim title if that’s on the table.
“Anything with gold in it, I’ll be happy,” Volkanovski said during a media day in Sydney (h/t Submission Radio). “That will just lock me in for whoever wins that anyway. So, even if it’s the interim, that’s still a big one. I’d say it’d be an exciting one with Lopes I’d say, if that was going to happen, if not it’s Max or Ilia.”
Volkanovski plans on being in attendance for Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) vs. Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
“Of course – that’s the best way to build up your next fight,” Volkanovski told Submission Radio. “Especially when you’re pretty much guaranteed. There’s only very little things that could get in the way. I doubt that happens, so get me in there, let’s amp it up and call the date here in February, as well.”
If Holloway dethrones Topuria, Volkanovski will be looking at a title fight with a man he’s already defeated three times. But despite being up big on Holloway, Volkanovski is confident a fourth fight would sell.
“I’m in a position now where I want to fight in Sydney, and I want fights that excite me,” Volkanovski said. “Fighting for a belt excites me. Find some contender for just for a contender fight? Not exciting. What excites you? Money, big fights and gold.
“So if he’s wearing the gold, cool. He’s done an incredible job, obviously, in his last fight, so right now, he’s in an incredible position. Yeah, it’d be a big fight. Even though we’ve already had three fights, I feel like the fourth fight will even be bigger, which is a blowout. You would never have thought that a year ago.”