‘I’ll do whatever it takes’ – Alexander Volkanovski confirms next fight, opponent and desire to be on newly announced UFC card

Alexander Volkanovksi has ‘guaranteed’ his next fight in the UFC will be for a title.

The Australian also confirmed he will do ‘whatever it takes’ to fight at UFC 312 Sydney in February, which was announced this week.

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Volkanovski said he will face Ilia Topuria or Max Holloway for the featherweight title, or fight for interim status against Diego Lopes.

Topuria will defend his featherweight title against Holloway in the main event of UFC 308 on October 26 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

‘The Great’ lost the featherweight title to Topuria at UFC 298 in February when he was knocked out after two rounds.

This came after Volkanovski attempted to become a two-division UFC champion in back-to-back lightweight fights against Islam Makhachev.

Although the Australian defeated Makhachev the first time he asked by unanimous decision after five rounds in February 2023, he was brutally knocked out in the rematch eight months later.

Speaking to Submission Radio, ‘The Great’ discussed his UFC future.

He said: “Fighting for the title is pretty much what I was promised and February seems like the perfect date.

“I will be competing against the winner from Ilia (Topuria) and Max (Holloway) – I can definitely guarantee that.

“That (UFC 308) is going to be an incredible event, an incredible run. I want to remember the moment I had the last time I fought in Australia and I plan to do the same in February.

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Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290, who was sandwiched between his Makhachev fights, but lost to Topuria for the first time.

It will be the first-ever title defense for the Spaniard, who made his UFC debut in 2020.

Holloway, meanwhile, is a former UFC featherweight champion and one of Dana White’s best fighters ever.

He hasn’t fought for UFC gold since a trilogy of fights against Volkanovski between 2019 and 2022, when he lost all three by decision.

“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I’m on the map. I’ll be 100 percent entertaining in Sydney in February,” Volkanovski added.

“So whether it’s the title, interim title or lightweight title, I don’t care what it is. If for some reason I can’t get into a fight, I’ll entertain on the DJ decks or something, then I’ll find a way to do it.

“I’ll be there front and center, hopefully fighting and getting my belt back, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

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‘The Great’ also made some predictions for the clash between Topuria and Holloway in Abu Dhabi.

Volkanovski said Holloway will come out on top at UFC 308 because he has proven himself “time and time again,” adding that the pair may have to repeat it for a fourth time.

No. 3 middleweight Robert Whittaker challenges Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event of UFC 308, while England’s Lerone Murphy takes on Dan Ige.

Whittaker told talkSPORT exclusively that he plans to take Chimaev’s head off in their five-round fight in Abu Dhabi.

UK fans won’t have to stay up late for the main event card as live coverage starts at 5pm in Abu Dhabi. You can follow the event live on Sunday, October 26 on the TNT Sportkassa.