Alexander Volkanovski wants 'superfight' with Justin Gaethje

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski will attempt to defend his featherweight belt, for the second time this calendar year in his second reign as champion, against No. 1 contender Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. 

Alexander Volkanovski eyes ninth title defense

Evloev enters with an unblemished professional record (20-0-0, 10-0 UFC) and has spent years climbing the featherweight rankings behind a relentless wrestling attack and suffocating pace. 

For Volkanovski, a victory would further cement his legacy as the greatest featherweight in UFC history while clearing out another top contender from a division, putting him into unprecedented territory and surpassing Jose Aldo for the most featherweight title defenses in UFC history with nine. 

The window for a superfight is open

During the lead-up to the main event of UFC 333, Volkanovski floated out the idea of a superfight with UFC undisputed lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. 

"Let's do a superfight," Volkanovski said via "WHO THE FOOK ARE THESE GUYS?" podcast, "lightweight title on the line, and then we can both [retire] ... Then, straight after that, let the division sort themselves out. Let's make that happen."

Volkanovski's idea may sound like a fantasy booking exercise, but it's not nearly as far-fetched as it seems. At 38, he is much closer to the end of his career, while Gaethje will reach the same age in November. There comes a point when a fighter has accomplished enough that legacy matters more than rankings. Volkanovski and Gaethje are at that point. 

"Let's have a superfight with the lightweight title on the line, and then we can both say goodbye to everyone with a crazy superfight for the real fans," Volkanovski said.

A retirement superfight would allow both to leave on their own terms instead of hanging around one fight too long, a mistake MMA legends make far too often. 

Alexander Volkanovski's history of challenging for the lightweight belt

Volkanovski's pursuit of UFC lightweight gold has already come up short twice. Islam Makhachev narrowly edged him on the scorecards in their February 2024 showdown in Australia at UFC 284, when Volk attempted to claim double-champ status, then took a fight on short notice at UFC 294 and lost in the first-round due to a head-kick knockout eight months later in Abu Dhabi. 

Volkanovski's pursuit of greatness could reach another level if he clears Evloev and later claims the lightweight title from Gaethje, a feat that would make him the 12th double champion the UFC has ever seen.