Alex Volkanovski has proposed an idea to rival and UFC legend Justin Gaethje: to fight for the belts and leave their careers in the ring.
Volkanovski is looking to have one last showdown with the American, where both fighters give up their belts before leaving the sport together.
However, Volkanovski has reassured his fans that retirement is not in his immediate future, with his attention on his upcoming fight with undefeated contender Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski faces Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Volkanovski first mentioned the idea of the superfight with Gaethje on the Who The Fook Are These Guys podcast but quickly clarified that he isn't putting a timeline on his retirement.
“I even mentioned being like a retirement fight, and a lot of people are acting like I meant the next fight needs to be the retirement fight. It doesn't,” Volkanovski said, speaking to MMA Junkie.
“But at the same time, if that was offered to me, I go out there and do my thing and get my hand raised.”
Volkanovski's attention is strictly on Evloev.
If Volkanovski can get past the undefeated Russian, the potential of a superfight with Gaethje may just be one of the best fights the UFC has seen. Volkanovski mentioned that Justin Gaethje is unsure about his future and when he will hang up the gloves.
“I know Gaethje doesn't really know what he wants to do,” Volkanovski said.
“Well maybe if you do one more, I can do that with you, and then we go out there, have our superfight, and then vacate the belts after and retire.
“The divisions can sort themselves out while we have our little fairytale superfight ending and sail off into the sunset.”
Volkanovski believes that the superfight would have the potential to be larger than the belts and bring in the attention without having a championship behind it.
“I think that would be a cool story that's never been done, and you're not holding up the divisions doing it,” Volkanovski said.
“I've always said I don't want to hold up divisions.”
With Volkanovski thinking about retirement, the future of the UFC can start as opportunities open up for future champions.
“If I'm out of the picture, then there's so many fights they can do for the belt”, Volk said.
“That's why I'm like, ‘Maybe the UFC wouldn't mind that.'
“We could do a superfight, then at the same time let all the other fights happen.”
Volk knows it's just an idea for now, but remains optimistic about his plans.
“I just thought that would be pretty cool and could be something,” Volkanovski said.
“Obviously, a lot of people jumped on it and ran with it, and now I'm getting asked about it quite a bit.”
Volkanovski has shared the ring with a Russian champion fighter before, Islam Makhachev.
Volkanovski has lost both fights to Makhachev.
They first met at UFC 284; Volkanovski moved up from featherweight to lightweight to meet Makhachev. After a close fight, Makhachev won by unanimous decision.
Their second fight was in UFC 294, after Volkanovski stepped in on 10 to 12 days' notice for Charles Oliveira. After the quick return, Volkanovski was clearly out of his league, and the rematch was a struggle for the Australian.
For now, Volkanovski will defend his title against Evloev in UFC 333. If successful, his potential superfight with Justin Gaethje could become one of the most intriguing storylines in the UFC's future.
