Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has offered an update in regard to his return after offering to step in on late notice to save the crumbling UFC 303 card this coming Saturday.
The last time Alexander Volkanovski competed was at UFC 298 this past February, when he lost his featherweight title to Ilia Topuria.
After suffering consecutive knockout losses, Alexander ‘The Great’ made the admission that he would be taking an extended period away from the Octagon, to properly recover from the devastating losses.
Alexander Volkanovski offers an update on his return
UFC 303 takes place this coming Saturday from the T-Mobile Arena, and it marks the 12th annual International Fight Week.
The event, though, has faced several huge problems, after Conor McGregor withdrew from the originally scheduled main event against Michael Chandler, leaving the UFC needing a replacement.
They called upon the services of light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, who agreed to defend his title against Jiri Prochazka in the main event on short notice.
Prior to the promotion booking ‘Poatan’, Volkanovski put his name in the hat to save the day and compete in the main event, despite him having said he was taking some time off.
“I did put my hand up, I said if you need a guy (I’ll fight),” Volkanovski began in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Some people think I’m mad, but I’m back in training now and I’m excited to get back in there, so that’s all it takes, just a little thing like that and I put my hand up,” the former champion added.
The 35-year-old explained that the UFC didn’t give him a fight on the card because they were respecting his earlier decision to take some time off. Despite that, Volkanovski continuously reminded them that he was ready to return.
“The UFC were like ‘You’re a savage but we’ll let you know if we need you’ type thing but yeah, they knew that I said earlier in the year (that I wanted a break) and they said ‘Look, let’s just have a bit of a break’, they were respecting that so good on them for that.
“Even though, I kept reminding them everyday like ‘I’m being serious let me know’ but yeah they were sticking to their guns obviously, I guess they were looking after me, but I did want to save the day,” Volkanovski admitted.
Alexander Volkanovski offers prediction of UFC 303 co-main event
When UFC CEO, Dana White, announced that Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka would be the new main event, the boss also announced that Brian Ortega would take on Diego Lopes in the co-main event, in another fight put together on short notice.
With current champion, Topuria, likely fighting Max Holloway next, Volkanovski is keeping a keen eye on this fight, with it likely having significant bearings on the 145lb division.
“I like Ortega and Lopes, both very good dudes… Lopes is going to press forward I guarantee you he’s going to press forward and try and punch his way forward, I just don’t know if he’s going to be able to knock out Ortega.
“This is going to be a great fight… this is my Fight of the Night pick 100%, they’re going to bring it on the feet and then we’re going to see awesome exchanges on the ground.
“I’m going to go with Ortega as the underdog here, I think he’s going to focus more on his striking, I think he’s going to have more tidy striking, a little bit more calculated,” Volk predicted.