Alexander Volkanovski Open to Vacating Title to Fight Arman Tsarukyan
After defending his featherweight belt at UFC 333, Alexander Volkanovski revealed he is open to vacating his title to fight Arman Tsarukyan at lightweight if a bout with Justin Gaethje does not happen.
· VILLAND PICK editorial
Fresh off another featherweight title defense at UFC 333, where he stopped Movsar Evloev in the second round, Alexander Volkanovski is weighing his next options in the Octagon. Following his victory, Volkanovski initially campaigned for a double retirement fight against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. However, that proposal was met with mixed reactions, with fans pointing to Arman Tsarukyan as the presumptive top contender at 155 pounds.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Volkanovski acknowledged that Tsarukyan deserves to fight for the lightweight belt and pitched an alternative route. Volkanovski stated that if Gaethje chooses not to fight Tsarukyan or if their proposed matchup falls through, he would be willing to step in and face Tsarukyan for the championship. He also noted that a matchup between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett would be an intriguing fight in the division.
Volkanovski added that he would even be willing to vacate his featherweight championship to make the lightweight title fight with Tsarukyan happen. While praising Tsarukyan as one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the promotion, Volkanovski expressed confidence that he could deny Tsarukyan's top control and keep the contest standing. Any potential scenario remains contingent on Gaethje, who has not yet made a decision regarding his fighting future.
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