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Two-time featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is widely considered the greater 145-pound titleholder in UFC history. He’s held the belt twice and successfully defended it five times.
He’ll attempt to defend it for the sixth time on Feb. 1 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia in a rematch with No. 2 ranked Diego Lopes. Perhaps because Volkanovski is an Aussie and 37 years-old, some have speculated if “The Great” might announce his retirement in his home country.
Volkanovski shot down the speculation and rumors during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday.
“I don’t know where that came from exactly,” Volkanovski said. “Obviously, I guess whether people are just going off what I say. Like, you know, how many more do I have? If I was to get beaten up, am I going to come back and fight? No. You know what I mean? But that’s not my plans. Unless things go horrendously wrong, I’m planning on going back out there.”
Volkanovski and Lopes first fought at UFC 314 last April in Miami, Florida for the vacant title. Volkanovski became a two-time UFC champion winning via unanimous decision. He hasn’t fought since. After the loss, Lopes jumped back in there in September, defeating Jean Silva in spectacular fashion.
Related: Former UFC champion lists Top 5 fights he wants to see this year
“Right now, I plan on everything going well, getting my hand raised, hopefully taking minimal damage so I can have a quick turnaround,” he said. “So, the plan isn’t definitely to retire. I don’t know where that come from.”
While Volkanovski doesn’t plan to retire in Sydney, he sees the sun setting on the horizon. His retirement could come this year.
“Whether the next one, you know, taking on an undefeated fighter in the UFC or something like that. I mean, that’s appealing. Maybe that could be one that I could finish up on,” said the champion said.
“There were talks straight after my last fight. I’m like, how many more? You never know. There were talks like that, but as soon as I started training I was like, ah, let’s keep going,” he continued. “I’m still going strong, so I’ll just keep going I guess we’ll see.
“I wouldn’t say I’ll keep going. I can’t promise another three, four years, but I don’t think I’m retiring this one because I plan on getting my hand raised and taking minimal damage, going out there sending a statement, putting on a show for the fans and maybe see what happens after that, who we’re going to have after that. And maybe that’s going to be a little more appealing fight to retire on.”
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