Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has signalled his interest in moving up to challenge for the lightweight title if he emerges victorious in his trilogy title bout against Max Holloway at UFC 276 next month in Las Vegas.
“That’s why I talk about this third fight with Max being a big one,” Volkanovski said at a press conference in Australia earlier today. “Dana [White] has even touched on it, that after this one I’ll go do my thing. It’s going to give me that time to go and at least have a chance to go after that double-champ status.
“That’s what I want, so I’m going what I plan on doing and that’s what I’m going to call for.”
Volkanovski also gave his opinion on current lightweight kingpin Charles Oliveira, acknowledging that he’s dangerous, while noting that he seems far from invicible.
“When I look at Oliveira, dangerous fighter. Dangerous fighter. A lot of people like watching him fight, and exciting fights. But obviously he has showed that he can be beat. He showed that in his last few. Even though they were exciting, he was almost beat in every one of those times.”
“The thing is, with me, I ain’t going to give him those opportunities,” Volkanovski continued. “If I land big on someone, they ain’t going to get the opportunity to land big on me. That’s not how we roll. I’m going to land big and not get hit. That’s the whole point.
“I plan on moving up. He’s dangerous. It’s going to be a great fight, and I think it’ll be a massive fight. I definitely believe that I can go that double-champ status and I’ll be successful. But let’s worry about Max.”
