Anaheim, CA – Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski did not mince words when it came to what he wants next following his loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 on Saturday night.
“I’ve been a champ for a long time and I want that rematch,” Volkanovski told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“That’s something that needs to happen. I’ve been reigning champ for how long, been a bit of a company man, backed up on short notice and fought Max (Holloway) three times, you name it. I think I deserve that and it’s going to be different next time.”
Volkanovski (26-4) was coming off a knockout loss to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev just under four months ago at UFC 294. Even with that in mind the former champion did not take credit away from Topuria.
“You can’t anything away from Topuria. If he puts a hand on you like that you’re going to go down. That’s just that. That was a clean right hand. No matter who you are, you let one of those land on your chin while you’re caught there, you’re probably going down,” Volkanovski said.
“Don’t let him catch you. He caught me.”
Topuria has made it clear that he believes, as champion, he can bring the UFC to Spain. Volkanovski would like rematch with the new champion in his home country regardless of timeline.
“Look he just won the belt I’m not expecting every champion to be as active as me. He’s going to go back, celebrate, I’m sure he’ll celebrate big. We’ll see when that Spain card is,” he said.
“Maybe I’m headlining as a challenger.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Alexander Volkanovski above.
