Alexander Volkanovski won’t be hurrying into his next fight.
Since his challenging first-round knockout loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev on short notice, brain health has become the primary concern for the now-former UFC featherweight champion. The resounding head kick witnessed at UFC 294 in October marked “The Great’s” first finish defeat in the promotion and only his second overall, following his initial unanimous decision setback in their first encounter in February 2023.
Regrettably for Australia’s revered fighter, another devastating knockout occurred in his rebound effort when he returned to featherweight, aiming for a sixth successful title defense. Ilia Topuria landed a clean right hand against Volkanovski along the cage in round two of their UFC 298 headliner bout earlier this month, seizing the title. Given Volkanovski’s status as a long-reigning and accomplished champion, an immediate rematch is a distinct and justifiable possibility. However, he prioritizes his health and intends to return more cautiously following his recent two-fight stint.
“I’m going to allow my head to rest, so the training will be strategic, especially for the next couple of months,” Volkanovski expressed on his YouTube channel. “It’s crucial. That’s what I’ve managed to do this week. I’ve felt excellent.
“Depending on Ilia’s plans, if he intends to be very active and fight soon, which would imply my rematch being rushed, alright, I’m content to say, ‘If you’re that active, I’ll have to wait.’ I know my next fight will unquestionably be for the title and the rematch, but if he opts for another path due to his desire to stay active, I’m perfectly fine with that.
“Of course, I won’t rush due to my head; you need to take that seriously, but my next fight will undoubtedly be the rematch,” he concluded.
If Topuria maintains an active champion status, Volkanovski commends him preemptively, believing he and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya “set a commendable standard” for championship activity. Unfortunately for fans, Topuria has hinted since claiming gold that a return in October or November could be plausible. While not entirely outlandish, it could preclude a three-fight year, as seen previously from the City Kickboxing products.
