Bo Nickal’s insider information becomes ‘half-true’ as UFC return of Alexander Volkanovski revealed

One of Alexander Volkanovski's teammates discussed the buzz around his next fight, which is often linked against Ilia Topuria.

Bo Nickal’s insider information becomes ‘half-true’ as UFC return of Alexander Volkanovski revealed

Bo Nickal made a claim about Alexander Volkanovski's next fight (Image via Las Vegas Journal/X)

It has been over a year since former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski last fought. During this one-year hiatus, the Australian fighter has been linked to several competitors for a potential matchup. Most recently, UFC middleweight fighter Bo Nickal mentioned a possible rematch against UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.

According to Bo Nickal, the rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria is imminent. He mentioned that this matchup is expected to headline the UFC 314 event scheduled for April. Recently, Volkanovski’s teammate, Dan Hooker, gave more insights about the buzz. While he seems to confirm that the ‘Great’ will fight at UFC 314, Hooker didn’t reveal information about Volkanovski’s opponent.

I’m pretty sure Alex [Volkanovski] and Kai [Kara-France] will be on the same card. I would’ve liked for the three of us to be fighting in April together, but I got chucked on a little earlier… I’ll get to enjoy my fight in March, then hopefully be sitting cageside with a mojito and enjoy the fights there with the boys.

Dan Hooker via ESPN Australia & NZ
YouTube video

Recently, Topuria hasn’t competed as often in the UFC. The featherweight champion appears to be more interested in bypassing challengers like Volkanovski and aims to fight champions in higher weight classes. With this in mind, Topuria has called out Islam Makhachev multiple times. If his wish is granted, it seems unlikely that Volkanovski will have the opportunity to fight the Spaniard.

In the headliner clash in the UFC 298, Topuria decisively knocked out Volkanovski with a powerful right hook. Although the Australian fighter has expressed a strong desire for an immediate rematch, the Spaniard believes that the outcome would likely be the same as their previous encounter. As a result, there is still uncertainty surrounding Volkanovski’s next fight.

Alexander Volkanovski open to other fight opportunities in the division

Currently, the UFC featherweight division has several rising contenders. Despite this, Alexander Volkanovski has already defeated the majority of them before his fight with Ilia Topuria. Interestingly, there are a few rising superstars that the former UFC featherweight champion has yet to face. The likes of Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev are two prominent examples.

Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298
Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 (Image via Bleacher Report)

Due to the uncertainty surrounding his rematch with Topuria, Volkanovski once shared his interest in other potential fights within the promotion. In a video on his YouTube channel, the former UFC featherweight champion discussed his future. Volk hinted that he might be interested in facing the rising star Lopes.

Obviously, my next fight is for the title, depending on what happens. Are there injuries in the Max and Ilia fight? Who knows what’s going to happen…Could there be an interim with someone like Lopes? You never know, so we’ll see what happens.

Alexander Volkanovski via YouTube

Lopes is currently on an impressive winning streak, having most recently defeated Brian Ortega at Noche UFC (UFC 306). With this victory, the Brazilian fighter has established himself as a top contender in the promotion. It will be interesting to see how the UFC approaches a potential matchup between Volkanovski and Lopes.

Related: Alexander Volkanovski wife: Who is Emma Volkanovski and how long has she known the featherweight GOAT?