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

As UFC CEO Dana White put it during the UFC 333 Post-Fight Press Conference, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is “built different.”

Volkanovski defeated previously undefeated top contender Movsar Evloev via second-round TKO. It was the second title defense of Volkanovski’s second 145-pound championship reign. The two-title titleholder has only lost one featherweight fight in his 14-year career.

Prior to the fight and after, Volkanovski pitched the idea of moving up to the lightweight division to face champion Justin Gaethje in a super fight. The 38-year-old Australian has fought for the 155 title twice, losing to Islam Makhachev both times. Despite the two failed attempts, White was open to the thought.

“I think when you’ve accomplished what he’s accomplished, there’s not much we’re going to say no to with him,” said White. “So, we’ll see how this whole thing plays out.”

Volkanovski has stated that he’d retire if given the opportunity, win or lose. Eyeing the end of his fighting days, “The Great” wants to leave accomplishing something big, or at least trying 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.