Alexander Volkanovski mulled over retirement before title crack at UFC 314: “This ain’t easy…”
Former champ Alexander Volkanovski could be one and done after UFC 314 PPV, was thinking retirement before Diego Lopes title scrap.
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UFC 314's Alexander Volkanovski says retirement on the horizon ahead of title fight vs. Diego Lopes (Source: X/IMAGO)
Alexander Volkanovski isn’t done giving all there is to the fighting game. The short-notice Aussie legend and former champ meets #3 featherweight contender Diego Lopes in the main event of UFC 314. The duo duke it for the vacant 145-pound strap at the PPV headliner on April 12, 2025, from inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Alexander Volkanovski is on the cusp of a rare chance to become a two-time champ at featherweight. Ilia Topuria knocked him out to win the belt at UFC 298. Topuria did promise a rematch. However, with him yearning a move up to 155 more, it didn’t come. Volk says he isn’t done giving to the fight came. But those back-to-back losses almost made him consider retirement way before UFC 314.
I don’t know how much longer I have left in this, …I probably could go a few more years. I’m thinking of winning the belt and then defending. Even winning, I’m thinking of, ‘You know what, I’m done. Because how much longer do I want to do this? This ain’t easy, especially to be at a level that I’m at…I’ll say it now — I’ll have this fight and absolutely love it and go, ‘You know what, give me another seven!’ But how much longer?
Alexander Volkanovski on “The Ariel Helwani Show” for ‘Uncrowned’ Combat
He decided to get back into serious training early to get his weight down. Volkanovski had gone most of 2024 without a dedicated fight camp. However, with Topuria vacating his gold, he meets a different beast in Diego Lopes at UFC 314. After dropping a short-notice debut to Movsar Evloev, Lopes has reeled off with five straight wins. He is a proper breakout star for 2024, and even had the promise of a title shot.
City Kickboxing NZ’s Volk doesn’t know if he can sustain such fight camps anymore. Win it, defend it; maybe call it a day. That’s what the Aussie man has in mind after he went 5-0 on title defenses in his first reign. This second chance at another reign does excite him, though.
Alexander Volkanovski talks about upcoming title opportunity vs. red-hot Diego Lopes
Former five-time defending champ Alexander Volkanovski has walked the walk many times. Having a 13-3 UFC, is no easy feat when the level of competition is at an all-time high. Volk is thankful he is getting yet another crack at the upcoming UFC 314 PPV card.
“The Great” is okay with lacing it up a few times more and then hanging up his gloves. He knows what he has achieved in this game; something he didn’t think was possible acclimating to a while back. Volkanovski’s new-found excitement in his post-fight life hasn’t deterred him from the current game. The spirit of the championship is still alive and kicking and ready for the undisputed strap.
I’m really looking forward to that, but I want to have one last crack and get really stuck into it, …Maybe one big fight after a defense, we’ll see. Then maybe I’m done. That’s sort of where we’re at. But I want to be active even as soon as I get this belt. When I get it back, I’m like, ‘Alright, when we doing this next one? Who is it? …I’m ready!
Alexander Volkanovski further said
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the former featherweight champion is a -142 favorite. Meanwhile, the challenger has run through Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, Sodiq Yusuff, and Dan Ige in under 11 months! He even defeated Brian Ortega, who gave Volk quite a run. Come UFC 314, Volk will mean to prove just why the differential and favoritism exists to oddsmakers.
Related: Dana White gets alerted as Alexander Volkanovski eyes UFC’s return to Australia
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