Getty Image / Chris Unger
Alexander Volkanovski has a big challenge in front of him tonight at UFC 290.
He’ll be defending his featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has taken out a couple of the top fighters in the division in his last two fights to earn his title shot and his kicks present Volkanovski with a challenge he hasn’t faced since his fight with Jose Aldo.
In spite of the challenge in front of him, Volk already knows what he wants next.
Volkanovski revealed earlier this week that he wants a chance to move back up to lightweight to get revenge against fellow champion Islam Makhachev.
One of Volkanovski’s potential next challengers clearly isn’t thrilled with that idea.
Featherweight contender Ilia Topuria told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn that he thinks Alexander Volkanovski just wants an easier fight.
Ilia Topuria questions Alexander Volkanovski's desire to fight him after #UFC290 and says he wants the "easier fight" with Islam Makhachev.
Full interview: https://t.co/hmIg58SCBc pic.twitter.com/TtVR2bcCQZ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 8, 2023
“He’s looking for a rematch with Islam,” Topuria said. “He wants to go up to 155 because he’s running from the real danger. He knows where the real danger is, and it’s me in 145. He’s looking for an easy way. He wants to move up to 155.
Without any doubt (he thinks it’s the easier fight). He was already with him in the cage. He did nothing to him. They went to the decision, like a normal fight. He want to go back. Of course.”
It’s hard to see the argument that Volk is avoiding a tough fight by going up in weight to take on a fighter that has already beaten him once.
There’s also a case to be made that Topuria should still be another win away from a title shot. His two best wins are over fighters currently ranked 6th and 12th in the division.
A fight with somebody like Brian Ortega or Arnold Allen while Volk gets his rematch with Makhachev would give Topuria a chance to really solidify his claim to a title shot.
Whatever is next for either of these men, it seems pretty unlikely that Alexander Volkanovski is looking for anything easy given his track record in the UFC.