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Nicolas Atkin

Alex Volkanovski still does not believe Henry Cejudo is serious about a comeback – but is open to defending his featherweight title against the former UFC double champ if certain criteria are met.
The 33-year-old Australian (24-1) made his third successful defence with a fourth-round TKO of “The Korean Zombie” Jung Chan-sung in last weekend’s UFC 273 main event.
With no obvious next contender at 145 pounds, “The Great” Volkanovski is considering a “money fight”, something Cejudo seems to be banking on.
“Triple C” announced on Monday he is re-entering the USADA testing pool, signalling he intends to end a two-year retirement, and he immediately made another signature social media call out of Volkanovski.


“Obviously there’s a few people asking me about it. That’s the only reason I even know about it,” Volkanovski told the Post on Tuesday morning.
“I’m not taking it too serious. A lot of people are, but every time he says stuff … The good thing is, you guys want to see that, so that’s sorta good to know.
“I want to make the right fights for the right reasons. The fact you guys keep bringing it up, I’m surprised you keep taking it serious with how long he’s been doing all this s***.
UFC 273: White heaps praise on Chimaev; will pay Burns win money
“You guys will take it serious, and nothing happens. I’m surprised you guys are still listening to it.
“I don’t think he deserves a title shot straight away. He’s been out of the game for a while, he’s retired. He was a bantamweight champion and a flyweight champion, which are great accomplishments. But it doesn’t mean he deserves it.
“If there ever was a time to flirt with ideas like that, maybe it is now. But because we’re waiting to see who earns that No 1 spot. But I still think he’s in the same position as some of these contenders. They’re probably one fight away. I don’t think he needs a couple of fights. He just needs a feeling out featherweight fight – if he goes there and dominates he will get a title shot for sure.”

Volkanovski dismissed the idea of a super fight with Aljamain Sterling, after the bantamweight champ defended his belt against Petr Yan in the UFC 273 co-main event.
“You’ve got to earn that double champ status and the chance to move up. You can’t just have one title defence and expect to get that opportunity,” he said.
“I feel I would definitely dominate that fight, but you need to earn that. Just like I’m trying to earn my opportunity. I’ve had three defences now. Look at the guys I’ve taken out. I’m in a position where I can at least call for that. You didn’t see me calling for that one fight into my title reign. So things like that need some time.”

If the chance to take on the winner of next month’s lightweight title fight between champ Charles Oliveira and challenger Justin Gaethje arose, Volkanovski would be game.
“I think I’ve done all right. Taken out all the GOATs in the division, legends of the sport, No 1 contenders,” he said. “Had the three title defences now. We’re dominating them. So I believe I deserve that shot, and a lot of people do. So we’ll see what we can do.”
As for his own division, Volkanovski sees no clear front runner as his next challenger. Yair Rodriguez and Calvin Kattar both have losses to former champ Max Holloway, who has lost twice to the Australian.

“There’s a few of them that are just one fight away,” Volkanovski said. “At least there were a couple of guys that took that fight with Max, they tried to go there and earn that No 1 spot.
“You’ve got to give them credit for doing that. But you’ve got all these other guys that want a title fight given to them. Just go get that No 1 spot man, it’s that easy.
“Otherwise I’m looking elsewhere. I’m looking at lightweight titles, maybe money fights, because I don’t need to keep this division alive. I’m doing my part.
“The rest of the division needs to keep it alive. We need to have contenders that want that No 1 spot, keep on screaming their name.
“If not, that gives me time to play around and have a look. Flirt with a couple of ideas. I never said I wanted to do that stuff. But right now if the division’s gonna chill, all right, I’m gonna look elsewhere. There’s a lot of guys that are very close, just there. Go and take that No 1 spot and you get it.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Alex Volkanovski on Henry Cejudo re-entering USADA testing pool – ‘I’m surprised you guys are still listening to it’

Alexander Volkanovski connects in the second round against Jung Chan-sung, better known as ‘The Korean Zombie’, in their featherweight title bout at UFC 273. Photo: Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP

Alexander Volkanovski heads to the Octagon for his featherweight title fight at UFC 273. Photo: Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP

Alexander Volkanovski reacts after defeating Jun Chan-sung. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP

Alexander Volkanovski reacts to his win over Jung Chan-sung. Photo: Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP

UFC’s ‘Korean Zombie’ leaves a huge legacy for Asian fighters, and can retire with his head held high

Chan Sung Jung, better known as “the Korean Zombie,” leaves the arena after defeated by Alexander Volkanovski in the fourth round in the featherweight title bout at UFC 273 in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday, April 9, 2022. Photo: Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP

Alexander Volkanovski lands a punch on Jung Chan-sung at UFC 273. Photo: Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP

Alexander Volkanovski celebrates a stoppage victory over Jung Chan-sung at UFC 273. Photo: Corey Perrine/The Florida Times-Union via AP

UFC 273: Aljamain Sterling blasts ‘dirty’ TJ Dillashaw – ‘I can’t wait to punch him in the face’

Aljamain Sterling celebrates after beating Petr Yan by decision at UFC 273 in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP

TJ Dillashaw reacts after losing to Henry Cejudo by TKO in 2019. Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Khamzat Chimaev’s failure to finish Gilbert Burns at UFC 273 is the best thing for his career

Khamzat Chimaev looks on after his welterweight fight against Gilbert Burns at UFC 273. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP

Gilbert Burns punches Khamzat Chimaev in their welterweight bout at UFC 273 in Jacksonville, Florida. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP

Khamzat Chimaev punches Gilbert Burns. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP

UFC 273: Dana White suggests Zhang Weili’s rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk in Singapore could be five rounds

Zhang Weili (right) battles against Joanna Jedrzejczyk en route to a split decision win at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

Joanna Jedrzejczyk kicks Zhang Weili in their strawweight title fight at UFC 248. Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP

UFC 273: Dana White says Khamzat Chimaev ‘made it through with flying colours’; will pay Gilbert Burns his win money

Khamzat Chimaev reacts after his decision victory over Gilbert Burns in their welterweight fight at UFC 273. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Khamzat Chimaev punches Gilbert Burns of Brazil in their welterweight bout at UFC 273. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP 

Gilbert Burns punches Khamzat Chimaev in a welterweight bout at UFC 273. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images/AFP

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Volkanovski open to defending title against Cejudo – if former UFC double champ ‘dominates’ in a ‘featherweight feeling out fight’
Australian ready to ‘flirt with a couple of ideas’ and ‘look elsewhere’ while 145-pound division shakes out



Alex Volkanovski open to defending his title against Henry Cejudo – if former UFC double champ ‘dominates’ in a ‘featherweight feeling out fight’.


UFC: Alex Volkanovski on Henry Cejudo re-entering USADA testing pool – ‘I’m surprised you guys are still listening to it’

Volkanovski open to defending title against Cejudo – if former UFC double champ ‘dominates’ in a ‘featherweight feeling out fight’ Australian ready to ‘flirt with a couple of ideas’ and ‘look elsewhere’ while 145-pound division shakes out

Volkanovski open to defending title against Cejudo – if former UFC double champ ‘dominates’ in a ‘featherweight feeling out fight’

Australian ready to ‘flirt with a couple of ideas’ and ‘look elsewhere’ while 145-pound division shakes out