Does a UFC 333 win earn Alexander Volkanovski another lightweight title shot? Making the case for 'The Great'
Alexander Volkanovski is eyeing another lightweight title fight in the near-future, and a win at UFC 333 should guarantee it.
It's clear that Alexander Volkanovski's greatest professional dream is to become a two-division UFC champion. He's already a two-time featherweight champion, but failed in his two attempts at capturing lightweight gold. However, a win at UFC 333 should earn him one last shot at the division above.
Alexander Volkanovski can earn another lightweight title shot
There isn't much for Alexander Volkanovski to prove at featherweight. He's a two-time UFC champion in the division, and has beaten every 145-pounder thrown his way except for Ilia Topuria. At this point, he's probably the greatest featherweight of all time, even if some holdouts still regard JosƩ Aldo as the greatest-ever. A win at UFC 333 would be tremendous. Not only would it mean he continued to successfully defend his featherweight title in his second reign, but it would also mean he handed Movsar Evloev the first loss in his career. While fun or interesting matchups remain, like bouts with Aljamain Sterling or Jean Silva, they do nothing for him.
Volkanovski is 38 years old and will eventually start to slow down. His last win at UFC 325, where he defended his featherweight belt against Diego Lopes in a rematch, was a convincing unanimous decision, but a somewhat unremarkable one. A few more title defenses won't add to his career, but a second belt will. He has already spoken about his desire for a fight with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, but there are complications. First, Arman Tsarukyan is currently favored to be the next title challenger at lightweight, with fighters like Paddy Pimblett and BMF titleholder Charles Oliveira also in the mix. However, there is a way for Volkanovski to insert himself into the title picture with a win over Evloev.
Volkanovski can volunteer to be the backup fighter in the likely Gaethje vs. Tsarukyan lightweight title fight, with the promise that he will be next in line for the belt if he weighs in as the backup fighter. This will also allow the lightweight title picture to better sort itself out, creating room for Pimblett to take on one more fight, possibly against Topuria. Regardless, Volkanovski has always been a company man. He's fought injured, on short-notice, and made quick turnarounds. He has never badmouthed the UFC, and has stayed away from controversies. One more crack at the 155-pound throne won't hurt.
If he wins at UFC 333, he'll deserve it.
