UFC president Dana White has confirmed Alexander Volkanovski could be back in the Octagon within 12 weeks despite being knocked out in his quest for immortality at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
While he may have been knocked cold by UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, Volkanovski revealed immediately afterwards that he wants – and needs – to keep fighting.
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In an emotional interview after his headliner was done, Australia’s UFC featherweight champ revealed mental health issues had played a key role in him taking the Makhachev showdown on 12 days notice.
The Wollongong father-of-three said that while never thought he would “struggle”, he admitted to needing to be continually in camp right now, and in the gym.
While White addressed the media before Volkanovski revealed his issues, the UFC boss said he wanted to have the Aussie back in the cage for UFC 297 in January.
‘HOLY SMOKES’: Aussie Volk brutally KO’d as UFC champ makes ‘unbelievable’ statement
Before accepting the Makhachev bout, Volk had verbally agreed to defend his strap in the first UFC event on 2024, to be held in Toronto, Canada.
White said, should the champ come through all his medical requirements, he will be given the opportunity to keep that date.
Asked about appearing at UFC 297, White said: “Obviously he got headkick KO’d tonight so let him go see the doctor and make sure everything is OK.
“Give him some time, get some stitches in that eye and then if he’s medically cleared to turn it around, love it.”
“Look what he can do to you” – Volk | 01:46
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Despite being dropped by a brutal head kick, and then nine hammer fists on the ground, Volkanovski recovered quickly afterwards and was back up and about almost immediately.
The Aussie also attended all his post-fight duties where he revealed, among other things, that he needs to keep fighting and expected to be ready to go for the January card.
Topuria, the No.1 contender, also responded on Twitter with: “Team Volkanovski, let’s go”.
Meanwhile, White likened the Makhachev head kick to those made famous by UFC great Mirko Cro Cop.
“What did I think of the head kick? Spectacular,” the UFC boss said.
“It was Cro Cop-esque
“Islam talked a lot about coming in and setting the record straight and it was one of the situations where … it wasn’t where Alex came in on short notice and gassed out or anything.”
Back in July, Topuria tried to rush Volkanovski as he left the Octagon following a stunning UFC 290 win over Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez in Las Vegas.
The champ had not even finished celebrating with fans when Topuria, who had been watching from the T-Mobile Arena crowd, jumped a makeshift arena fence to face ‘The Great’.
“Look what he can do to you” – Volk | 01:46
The Spanish phenom is undefeated in all 14 professional bouts and during an interview with The Mac Life in fight week said of Volkanovski “I can crush his small head”.
When asked after his win over Rodriguez about the exchange, Volkanovski laughed off the approach – and revealed he had actually encouraged it.
“I told him ‘yeah, c’mon jump over, let’s do a little face off. Let’s amp it up a little bit’,” he said.
And when the pair of you did get close?
“I actually said to him ‘man, I thought you were a bit taller’,” he continued.
“Everyone is so much taller than me, but we were eye-to-eye.
“But no disrespect to the bloke, he’s a good fighter, undefeated and I can’t wait to take that zero.”
While Volkanovski had been the one challenging for two belts, White suggested he could now see Makhachev eventually doing the same at both lightweight and welterweight.
“Yeah, he’s talented enough,” he said.
“I don’t see it happening any time soon, he’s still got some guys to fight (at lightweight).
“But if he defends the belt for another year and wanted to move up why not.”
Makhachev v Volkanovski: Full Highlights | 04:20
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