Volkanovski vs Gaethje is the fight Alexander Volkanovski wants next. Hours after stopping Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, the featherweight champion said at the press conference that he would go up to face lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, then retire whatever the result. Dana White did not say no.
Full event coverage: Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev: the UFC 333 loser has promised to walk
Key takeaways
- Alexander Volkanovski (29-4) wants to challenge lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and says he would retire after that fight, win or lose.
- Dana White says there is not much the UFC would refuse him, but nothing is booked and Gaethje has not answered.
- BetOnline opened Gaethje as a -180 favourite, with Volkanovski at +157, according to SB Nation.
Volkanovski vs Gaethje: what the champion proposed
A last fight, one weight class up
At the UFC 333 press conference, Volkanovski said a fight with Justin Gaethje at lightweight is “something I would retire for”. He added that he would retire win or lose, so the featherweight belt would become vacant and the division would not be held up.
An idea he had floated before
According to MiddleEasy, he had already floated the idea on October 15 on the podcast Who The Fook Are These Guys?. Cageside, after the fight, he did not name an opponent.
A backup plan
MiddleEasy also reports that he would consider a title challenge against Arman Tsarukyan, as long as he does not block lightweights who have earned their shot. He says he will decide with his team.
Dana White leaves the door open
The words of the boss
“When you’ve accomplished what he’s accomplished, there’s not much we’re going to say no to with him,” White said after the event, according to Uncrowned. “So we’ll see how this whole thing plays out.”
What stands in the way
Gaethje won the undisputed title in June against Ilia Topuria, whose corner stopped the fight after round 4. In August, he said he would not fight again before 2027 and that he was weighing retirement with his family. He has not responded to Volkanovski.
The queue at lightweight
Tsarukyan has been calling for Gaethje since his knockout of Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. Topuria also wants his belt back. A Volkanovski fight would push Tsarukyan and Topuria back.
That's something I would retire for.
Why Volkanovski can ask
A record night
His TKO of Evloev at 4 minutes 54 of round 2 is his 9th win in a featherweight title fight, a UFC record ahead of José Aldo’s 8, according to Uncrowned and MiddleEasy. It was also the only loss of Evloev’s 21 pro fights.
Sick during fight week
Volkanovski confirmed he was unwell. Journalist Oscar Willis wrote that he refused to take any medication, even ibuprofen. “It’s all good. It’s a part of the game,” the champion said.
Follow the story
Alexander Volkanovski, Justin Gaethje and Arman Tsarukyan all have their profile, record and rating in the FightHub app.
- Alexander Volkanovski and Movsar Evloev: the UFC 333 loser has promised to walk
- Tsarukyan vs Ruffy Booked for UFC 331 After Late Switch
- Arman Tsarukyan vs Mauricio Ruffy: a title shot, and the one way to beat the knockout artist
- UFC bonuses explained: how the $100,000 awards and the $25,000 finish bonus work in 2026
