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Stephen Foote

The stars seem to be aligning for UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.
On Wednesday, the UFC confirmed widespread reports that they’d be returning to Australia in June, setting up a potential blockbuster homecoming for Volkanovski’s maiden title defence.


While rumours already abound that a rematch with Max Holloway is as good as a lock for the main event, that may still depend on the 31-year-old being medically cleared to fight.
“The Great” is working his way back from a hand injury suffered during his shutout unanimous decision win over Holloway at UFC 245 in December, and has only recently returned to light training duties.


“I’ve been training a little bit,” Volkanovski told the Post. “I’ve still got to ease into it.”
“But I’m starting to do wrestling, drilling, and even punching with it very lightly now, which is good. I’m already a couple of weeks ahead.”
Khabib hails ‘toughest opponent’ Ferguson as UFC announces presser
Combine those factors with Volkanovski’s relentless competitive nature, and the signs are encouraging.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to be on that card,” he stressed. “I don't want to sit on the sidelines too long. But I think that’s really realistic. I think I can make it. I haven’t properly talked to my doctors about that, but they reckon I’ll be doing a fair bit more pretty soon. I think it’ll be plenty of time.
“If I hadn’t done anything the whole time it would’ve been harder but I’ve been keeping a bit of a base. These legs are strong, these legs are ready, my left hook is down pat. I’m ready.”

The more pressing question may lie in exactly who Volkanovski will be sharing the Octagon with come June, and judging by his recent social media activity, he has plenty of suitors.
The most notable of those is bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, who took to Instagram earlier this month to make the newly-crowned champion the latest in a strong of targeted opponents, referring to him as an “overgrown midget”.
Volkanovski shrugged off Cejudo’s challenge as a “bit of fun”, but said he’d be more than willing to oblige if it ever came to fruition.

“I’m sure I’d make a lot of people very happy if I gave him a bit of a hiding, and I know I would,” he said, laughing. “It sounds cocky but I’m very confident. He’s a good athlete, but this is a different level.
“I’ve got long enough reach already, and then fighting someone else even shorter than me? I’d pick him apart, no dramas. I don’t know whether he really wants that or if he’s just trying to stay relevant.
“At the end of the day, if that comes to me and it’s what the UFC really want, then I’ll take him out. I’ll defend and then see what happens. If some big fight comes my way in a different weight class, I might take it on.”




















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Empty promises on #ValentinesDay ‬shame on you @henry_cejudo
A post shared by Alexander Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) on Feb 13, 2020 at 6:58pm PST



The “Korean Zombie” Jung Chan-sung has also fired some shots in Volkanovski’s direction, although eye surgery is likely to put paid to any hopes he may have had of a date in Perth.
“He’s just trying to get himself a fight, good on him,” the Australian said. “I’m not going to hold that against him. As I say, earned not given – that’s what I’ve done.”
All signs seem to point towards a Holloway rematch, despite Volkanovski’s earlier reservations about whether the Hawaiian deserves one, given the lopsided nature of their first bout.




















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We're going to Vegas. See you in Vegas! Don't be afraid, kid! ‍♂️ @alexvolkanovski #vegas #kz #fightready @eddie_cha @henry_cejudo @fightready
A post shared by 정찬성 (@koreanzombiemma) on Feb 26, 2020 at 9:13am PST



“I have a lot of respect for him because he was always the type of guy that, whoever was best or the next in line, he wanted that fight,” Volkanovski said.
“Even early in his title reign he was saying he wanted to defend his belt and didn’t care about all these other silly fights – moving up or holding up the division. That’s something that I said I’d do as well.
“Everyone knows I’m a gamer, and whoever they put in front of me, whoever really deserves it, bring it on. I’ll make sure I get it done – and in wild fashion too.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Alex Volkanovski happy to give Henry Cejudo ‘a bit of a hiding’ after call-out

Max Holloway says he is ‘a couple of weeks ahead’ in his return from a hand injury. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Henry Cejudo, celebrates after defeating Marlon Moraes during their bantamweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 238, early Sunday, June 9, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Alexander Volkanovski hits Max Holloway in a mixed martial arts featherweight championship bout at UFC 245, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

UFC: Brian Ortega warns Korean Zombie, Jay Park after trash talk – ‘don’t let me see you’

Jay Park (right) with ‘The Korean Zombie’ Jung Chan-sung (centre) and DJ Pumkin in Busan. Photo: Instagram

Max Holloway, lefts, take a punch to the face from Brian Ortega during the featherweight championship mixed martial arts bout at UFC 231 in Toronto on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

UFC 247: Dominick Reyes feels ‘disrespected’ by  judging vs Jon Jones – ‘I might want to have a word with you’

Dominick Reyes throws a punch at Jon Jones at UFC 247. Photo: AFP

Dominick Reyes rests on the fence after his light heavyweight mixed martial arts bout against Jon Jones at UFC 247 Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Jon Jones, right, goes for a take down of Dominick Reyes, left, during a light heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 247 on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

UFC’s Chinese champ Zhang Weili moves training camp again amid coronavirus fears

Zhang Weili celebrates with the Chinese flag after beating Jessica Andrade in Shenzhen. Photo: Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC

UFC: Khabib Nurmagomedov says a US$100 million rematch with ‘idiot’ Conor McGregor is ‘not rational’

Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) takes Conor McGregor to the ground during his lightweight title win at UFC 229 in 2018. Photo: AP

FILE- In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Conor McGregor is escorted from the cage area after fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 229 in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov and McGregor will remain suspended at least until December because of a brawl inside and outside the octagon after their UFC match in Las Vegas, but the Nevada Athletic Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018, allowed some prize money to be released to Nurmagomedov. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

UFC president Dana White stands between fighters Tony Ferguson, right, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, of Russia, during a news conference for UFC 209, Thursday, March 2, 2017, in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov and Ferguson are scheduled to battle in a lightweight mixed martial arts fight Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Australian says he would ‘pick apart’ bantamweight champion – ‘I don’t know if he really wants that or he’s just trying to stay relevant’
Featherweight champ ‘weeks ahead’ in return from hand injury as he lines up UFC Perth title defence in June



UFC lightweight champion Alex Volkanovski responds to call-out from bantamweight king Henry Cejudo – ‘I don’t know if he really wants that or he’s just trying to stay relevant’.


Henry Cejudo

Max Holloway

Martial arts

UFC: Alex Volkanovski happy to give Henry Cejudo ‘a bit of a hiding’ after call-out

Australian says he would ‘pick apart’ bantamweight champion – ‘I don’t know if he really wants that or he’s just trying to stay relevant’ Featherweight champ ‘weeks ahead’ in return from hand injury as he lines up UFC Perth title defence in June

Australian says he would ‘pick apart’ bantamweight champion – ‘I don’t know if he really wants that or he’s just trying to stay relevant’

Featherweight champ ‘weeks ahead’ in return from hand injury as he lines up UFC Perth title defence in June