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Alexander Volkanovski is determined to recapture the UFC featherweight division. In fact, he is willing to sit on the sidelines and wait for a gift of a title shot after losing his belt to Ilia Topuria in what was his second consecutive loss in a 1-3 run in his last four fights.
After all, if Israel Adesanya was awarded a title shot after losing it to Sean Strickland, why not the ex-featherweight champion? However, it may not be the best decision Volkanovski could take at the moment. A run at lightweight is always in the cards, but he must commit to it.
In fact, he should fully move to the lightweight division and ply his trade as a bigger man in the weight class above, and there is good reason for him to.
A comparison of Alexander Volkanovski's options in both divisions
Alexander Volkanovski has accomplished everything there is to accomplish as a featherweight. He has faced two of the division's greatest-ever fighters in José Aldo and Max Holloway, beating both convincingly. Furthermore, he was an active champion and has the second-most title defenses in UFC 145-pound history.
It is only natural for him to want to reclaim his old belt. Unfortunately, that may not be the best option. Volkanovski is coming off two back-to-back knockout losses with just four months in-between. It is unlikely that he will ever be the same again.
If Topuria and Volkanovski fight again, there's a high probability that the Spaniard will knock him out in a rematch. He's too slick, too powerful, and Volkanovski is shockingly easy to hit when forced on the back foot, as he leans back at the waist and moves in a straight line before committing to pocket boxing exchanges.
Check out Alexander Volkanovski's knockout loss to Ilia Topuria:
A third consecutive knockout loss would truly make him spoiled goods in much the same way that Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold have become. For his sake, UFC 308 had better end with Holloway as the new featherweight champion. There is, however, another dilemma.
If Volkanovski loses to Topuria for a second time, he will never touch 145-pound gold again, and he has already made it clear that he isn't willing to fight just anyone. Unfortunately, featherweight isn't exactly filled to the brim with names he'd welcome in a bout.
He's already beaten Brian Ortega and Yair Rodriguez, and Alexander Arnold and Movsar Evloev just aren't big enough names to coax him into the octagon. At lightweight, the case is different. While he's unlikely to challenge for the divisional title as long as Islam Makhachev is the champion, there's more hope.
The pair's first bout was extremely competitive, with some believing that Volkanovski had done enough to win. Their rematch, meanwhile, was made under unfavorable circumstances. He came in on short notice, out of shape, with a softer midsection.
Volkanovski himself admits to having been in subpar condition for UFC 294. In short, if he were to rack up a few wins at lightweight, he could craft a narrative, even if embellished, that justifies a third crack at Makhachev. He almost won the first fight, and the second fight was on short notice.
"I want an exciting fighter like Charles Oliveira. I think I called out [Dustin] Poirier."
Check out Alexander Volkanovski's comments about his lightweight prospects (0:30):
A respectable win streak aside, there are more interesting matchups at lightweight. Volkanovski could opt to face some of the bigger names in the weight class, like Dustin Poirier, who he has already expressed an interest in fighting. Alternatively, there are Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Michael Chandler.
There's even the unlikely but potential bout with Conor McGregor, with whom 'The Great' has some history. There are more money-making opportunities and fresher bouts that could easily serve as the co-main event of PPVs.
Alexander Volkanovski will avoid a tough weight cut
Despite his short stature, Alexander Volkanovski is not a small featherweight. He's an ex-rugby player who carries a tremendous amount of bulk. He's strong and stocky, and the weight cut to featherweight will only grow more brutal as he ages. This is often the case with most fighters.
The older they get, the more difficult the weight cut. It's a natural consequence of the slower metabolism that comes with aging. At lightweight, Volkanovski won't be as encumbered by a weight cut. It'll be easier on his body and in more ways than one.
Check out Alexander Volkanovski on the featherweight scale:
Besides the progressive difficulty in cutting weight as fighters age, Volkanovski is faced with another dilemma. He has been knocked out twice in back-to-back fights just four months apart. His brain is unlikely to recover, especially if it continues to be deprived of fluid from weight cuts.
Fighting at 145 pounds is more detrimental to his brain health than fighting at lightweight would be, as he'll retain more fluid from a less demanding weight, especially as his body trends to gaining and retaining more weight as he ages. He wouldn't be the first fighter to rediscover his durability in a heavier division.
For the sake of his well-being, he ought to consider lightweight his next permanent destination. There's nothing left for him to achieve in the sport, he might as well make things easier on his body.
