Volk rejects US star’s bold claim; ‘sharks lurking’ as Whittaker eyes emerging star

Alexander Volkanovski has rejected suggestions he should have to fight a lightweight contender like Justin Gaethje before making a second run at ‘champ champ’ glory – describing the assertion as “silly”.

Australia’s featherweight king has also welcomed suggestions he will headline International Fight Week alongside American superstar Jon Jones, saying: “The two best fighters battling for that pound for pound title on the same night … I think that’s cool.”.

As first revealed by Fox Sports Australia earlier this week, Volkanovski is being targeted to defend his featherweight strap against Mexican Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July before then rematching lightweight champ Islam Makhachev late in the year.

This week, American fight favourite Gaethje suggested the Sydneysider should have to face somebody in the division’s top five being another crack (see column item below).

“And I’ll be happy to oblige,” revealed Gaethje, who faces hyped Muay Thai fighter Rafael Fiziev in a guaranteed UFC 286 blockbuster this Sunday.

To which Volkanovski says what?

“That might be a better conversation to have if Justin wins this weekend,” he said. “Because Rafa is no joke.

“But I love the fact there are big fights for me at lightweight.

“I can also see why other people are upset. Or not upset, but starting conversations around what should happen.

“Although I don’t think Justin is really in a position to be upset.

“He’s had plenty of chances.

“It would be silly for him to say it isn’t fair.”

Volkanovski has also welcomed the chance to co-headline International Fight Week alongside Jones, who recently enjoyed a spectacular return from three years off to claim the UFC heavyweight title.

So dominant was Jones against Frenchman Ciryl Gane, he also went to top spot on the UFC pound for pound list – taking that crown Volkanovski has retained for months, and even after losing to Makhachev.

Yet with debate still swirling over which man deserves top billing, Volkanovski said he liked the idea of that conversation continuing on the showcase July card.

Asked about co-headlining with Jones, he said: “That’s something I’m OK with”.

And as for suggestions he should still be No. 1 P4P?

“Jones has said that himself,” the Aussie shrugged.

“He thinks it should go to the most active. Which makes sense.

“I think it’s cool that a lot of people still see me as pound for pound No.1.”

Whittaker's big fear set to lead him to South African star

Robert Whittaker fears waiting for a middleweight title shot could keep him “sat up in the bleachers” until 2024, which is why Australia’s first UFC champion is now considering a fight with South African Dricus du Plessis.

While stressing he remains focused on UFC gold, Whittaker has told The Takedown one of few fights making sense right now – outside a title shot, anyway – is du Plessis, that Pretoria native undefeated through all five Octagon appearances.

Earlier this month, the 29-year-old knocked out Derek Brunson at UFC 285 to move into No. 6 in the rankings – and somewhere closer to Whittaker’s orbit.

Another option for the Sydney father-of-four is to wait out next month’s title rematch between Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya at UFC 287.

“But if I wait out a title shot, I could be waiting until next year,” Whittaker conceded.

“Which is absurd.

“Right now, I’m still sat up in the bleachers. Dunno why?

“But ideally, I’m looking to get back into the Octagon by May. And I want a middleweight ranked close to me.”

So who?

“Maybe du Plessis,” Whittaker continued. “Fighting guys ranked (lower) in the top 10, it’s unmotivating.

“And, yes, I’ve done it plenty of times.

“But a fight against the top guys is more motivating because they’re all the sharks lurking for that next title shot.

“And I’m one of them.”

Thoughts on du Plessis?

“Tough dude. Well rounded,” he said.

“Just doesn’t bring anything I haven’t seen before. But he’s that type of fighter who, if you underestimate him, if you don’t take him seriously, he will beat you.”

American rival makes major Volk claim

Justin Gaethje says Alexander Volkanovski cannot be catapulted straight back into a second UFC lightweight title fight, with the No. 3 contender stressing: “Fight one of us before trying to take our title shots.”

Set to face Rafael Fiziev in a guaranteed barnburner at UFC 286 this Sunday, Gaethje sits among a fearsome list of lightweights currently jockeying for their own shot at champion Islam Makhachev.

While the American favourite praised Volkanovski’s efforts against Makhachev at UFC 284 last month, he said the featherweight champ should now have to fight one of the lightweight division’s contenders to earn the rematch.

“And after I win this weekend I’ll be happy to oblige,” Gaethje said.

“Then the winner of that can go fight for the title.

“Because I don’t think Volkanovski can just go jump right back in there.

“He got his shot.

“And given his dominance at featherweight, I don’t think there was anything wrong with that.

“But if he wants to do it again … yeah, you better fight one of us before trying to take our title shots.”

Asked his thoughts on the UFC featherweight king, Gaethje added: “Great fighter.

“Extremely fast, and extremely strong from the looks.

“But I’d be willing to roll the dice against any of these guys.”

Australia’s Casey O’Neill has revealed she broke “every single timeline the doctors gave us” to be back fighting at UFC 286 this Sunday – roughly 10 months after tearing her ACL.

The 25-year-old Gold Coast product, who now lives and trains out of Las Vegas, has also promised to not only fight at least three times this year, but potentially get herself into a No. 1 contender fight before Christmas.

Dubbed King Casey, O’Neill will make her hyped return to the Octagon this Sunday when she faces No. 8 flyweight contender Jennifer Maia at UFC 286 in London.

It will be the Australian’s first fight since undergoing knee surgery and, as part of an intense recovery process, then doing two sessions every day at the UFC Performance Institute.

“Which is an amazing resource,” she said. “The UFC had me in there twice a day and we broke every single timeline the doctors gave us.

“Originally, they said I’d be back training without limitation at nine months.

“But I was back by six months.

“And now I’ll fight this weekend at 10 months.

“So I’m proud of myself, proud of them (UFC PI staff) and grateful for them. It wasn’t easy on any of us but we made it through and I’m now a much better athlete.”

Currently ranked No. 12, O’Neill wants Maia to be the first of three fights in 2023 – and by next year be challenging for that UFC gold belt Alexa Grasso has only just taken from Valentina Shevchenko.

“For this fight I just have to go out there and be myself,” said the fighter who, originally from Scotland, will have her mum, grandfather, aunts and cousins cheering her on in the London crowd.

“I just need to be who I am in training.

“Because when I’m that person, I’m a better fighter (than Maia) every day of the week.

“I win everywhere.

“I’d then like to fight two more times this year, with a No. 1 contender fight eventually being best case scenario.

“Obviously with the title changing hands, things are all up in the air. There’s stuff to be figured out.

“So for me it’s about fighting the best in the division and finishing them.”

Bobby Knuckles, Volk reveal picks for UFC 286

Rob Whittaker and Alexander Volkanovski are split in their picks for Sunday’s welterweight title showdown between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman at UFC 286.

While Volk is taking Edwards, the defending champ, in the hyped trilogy bout, Whittaker is going for Usman, the former champ who had their second fight seemingly won before being kayoed late.

Back in 2015, Usman also won the pair’s first fight over three rounds via unanimous decision.

“So If I’m betting my house – Usman,” Whittaker said.

Yet Volkanovski said he “feels like the Rocky Balboa story” of Edwards continues in London.