Alexander Volkanovski doubts Ilia Topuria left the UFC featherweight division because of him.
Ilia Topuria’s title reign was short and sweet at 145 lbs. After dethroning Volkanovski at UFC 298 and knocking out Max Holloway months later at UFC 308, Topuria surprisingly relinquished the featherweight title earlier this year to pursue a second belt at lightweight.
Topuria’s move to the lightweight division didn’t come without criticism.
His rival Paddy Pimblett had much to say about Topuria leaving featherweight behind, claiming he was ‘running’ from a title rematch with Volkanovski in an interview with Sportsnet.
Pimblett also stated Alexander Volkanovski was winning against Topuria until the KO and wouldn’t have been stopped had he not made a quick four-month turnaround after getting knocked out by Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
- READ MORE: ‘I got history’ … Max Holloway teases rematch with UFC 317 winner after Dustin Poirier trilogy
Alexander Volkanovski says Ilia Topuria didn’t run away from rematch at featherweight
On The Overdogs Podcast, Volkanovski was asked if there was any truth to Pimblett’s narrative that Topuria left the division to avoid a rematch with him.
“He’s been talking about going up and fighting for the lightweight [title] for a while,” Volkanovski said of Topuria.
“I don’t think that that’s the case,” Volkanovski said of Pimblett’s claims.
“I think he just wants that champ [status]. I don’t know how many fights he wants in his career. I’ve even heard him talking about only having a few fights he wants as champ, and then by the time he’s a certain age, he’s done.
“I don’t think the numbers of fights is a big thing for him. I think he’s just got, look, I want this, I want that, I want this, and I’m out, which is surprising.
“Maybe he’s got a lot of money outside of fighting or he’s built a lot of stuff outside of fighting right now, so he’s like, I don’t need to fight. You’re never gonna make the money you’re making fighting. Maybe he’s got what he wants, set, and that’s just what he’s gonna stick to.
“So, I don’t think he’s running or anything like that. I’m not gonna say that at all.”
Alexander Volkanovski can’t see Ilia Topuria rematch happening anytime soon
Following Topuria’s successful title defense over Holloway at UFC 308, Volkanovski stepped into the Octagon with Topuria under the impression he’d be his next challenger.
However, that all changed when Topuria vacated the belt, leaving Volkanovski to fight top contender Diego Lopes at UFC 314 in April.
“Obviously, I did want that,” Volkanovski said of a rematch with Topuria.
“It’s a fight that I will want, if it’s there.
“But I can’t see that happening anytime soon because I know he’s got his eyes on the lightweight division…”
Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title by unanimous decision at UFC 314, leaving many to wonder how a potential rubber match between him and Ilia Topuria would go.
Topuria is set to challenge for the vacant lightweight title against Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28th.