Dana White leaves door open for Alexander Volkanovski fighting for lightweight title

UFC CEO Dana White indicated during the UFC 333 Post-Fight Press Conference that Alexander Volkanovski, the featherweight champion, is "built different." Volkanovski secured a victory over Movsar Evloev, who had not lost a match before, by way of a second-round TKO. This was Volkanovski's second title defense in his second reign at the 145-pound division.

Throughout his illustrious 14-year career, he has only lost one featherweight bout. Before the bout and after, Volkanovski proposed the notion of moving up to the lightweight division to challenge champion Justin Gaethje in a super fight. The 38-year-old Australian has previously fought for the 155-pound title twice, losing both times to Islam Makhachev.

Despite these two failed attempts, White expressed openness to the idea. "I think when you’ve accomplished what he’s accomplished, there’s not much we’re going to say no to with him," White stated. "So, we’ll see how this whole thing plays out." Volkanovski has hinted at retirement, stating that he would quit his career if given the opportunity, either victorious or defeated.

As he nears the end of his fighting days, "The Great" aims to achieve something significant, or at the very least, attempt to. "That’s something I would retire for. So if they wanted to give me that opportunity, I would retire. Win or lose, retire; then it’s (featherweight title) vacant, so I’m not holding the division up. Then you’re gonna get the — if I win it and vacate, then you’ve got everyone else fighting anyway.

So that’s something I would retire for. Otherwise, I’m just taking each fight as it goes," Volkanovski said during the post-fight press conference.