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Volkanovski teases UFC return as experts believe he can reclaim his title
Sam Kosack • December 6th, 2024 3:35 pm
MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin predicts Australian UFC fighter Alexander Volkanovski is one of the only fighters in the world who could challenge reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria for his title.
Volkanovski posted a cryptic message to Instagram, teasing a return to the ring in 2025, with the Aussie rumoured to be weighing up a title fight against Topuria or a fight in Australia against Diego Lopez.
Should Volkanovski opt for a championship fight, it would set up a rematch with Topuria, who knocked him out to claim the title at the start of the year.
Volkanovski hasn’t fought since then, instead focussing on his health, but should he opt for a return to the ring, Martin believes he is actively a chance to reclaim his title.
“If he’s on his game, I have a hard time believing Alexander Volkanovski couldn’t beat anybody,” Martin told SEN 1170 Mornings.
“If we see a fully healthy, 100% ready Alex Volkanovski, he can win that fight. Now, again, time passes and as they say father time is undefeated so is Alex able to reach that same peak he had as champion a year later after a couple knock out losses? I don’t know.
“It just depends on if Alex is willing to miss out on an Australian card to wait for a title fight.”
Martin also thinks it’s fair to give Volkanovski a rematch right away despite not having fought since February.
“I’m really happy Alex took the last year off to basically get his head back, get his health back and get ready for a rematch so I think giving him an immediate rematch is the right move,” Martin commented.
“I know Alex will never make this excuse, but I do believe he came back soon after the Islam Makhachev fight… we've never seen Alex get rocked or hurt like that.
“Alex was a long reigning champion, he beat everyone in the division… he’s earned (a rematch), he deserves that, I’m just glad they're taking their time to do it and he's not rushing back in there again.”
