Although there is potential for an exciting rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski, Dana White and the UFC may hinder the Australian’s goal of becoming a double champion by scheduling a fight at UFC 297.
Alexander Volkanovski’s most recent defense of his featherweight championship was at UFC 290, where he defeated Yair Rodriguez. Since then, there has been no confirmation of his upcoming fight. However, a recent statement from Ilia Topuria hints that he may be the next challenger for the title. Additionally, this potential fight could potentially be part of UFC’s return to Canada.
Following Alexander Volkanovski’s match against Islam Makhachev at UFC 284, Dana White showed interest in arranging a rematch between the two fighters. However, Ilia Topuria has hinted that he may take on the lightweight champion before Volkanovski has a chance to fight again. Let’s hear his thoughts on the matter.
Could Alexander Volkanovski potentially fight Ilia Topuria in the future?
Ilia Topuria, hailing from Alicante, Spain, boasts an impressive record of 14 wins and 0 losses. Ever since joining the UFC, known as ‘El Matador’, he has secured six consecutive victories, placing him in the running for a title shot. It is possible that we may witness him facing off against Alexander Volkanovski for the championship.
“During an appearance on the Spanish TV show @El_Hormiguero, Ilia Topuria shared that while there are some remaining details to be sorted out, he anticipates facing Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight championship at #UFC297 on January 20th in Toronto, Canada.”
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) October 9, 2023
According to MMA Orbit, there are rumors that the UFC is planning a featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria. Topuria, a Georgian-Spanish fighter, recently appeared on a Spanish TV show and hinted that there are negotiations taking place for the potential bout.
Dana White has confirmed that Mateusz Gamrot has secured a crucial position for the lightweight title fight at UFC 294, acting as a back-up for Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.
Dana White has officially announced that Mateusz Gamrot will serve as a backup for the lightweight championship bout at UFC 294, in case either Charles Oliveira or Islam Makhachev are unable to compete.
Additionally, Ilia Topuria stated his anticipation for a fight against the Australian fighter when the UFC comes back to Canada for another pay-per-view spectacle. He proposed that the featherweight championship bout could potentially occur at UFC 297 in Toronto. However, this raises the question of what will become of the previously scheduled rematch between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
Will Volkanovski’s second match against Islam Makhachev determine the outcome?
The headline bout for UFC 284, featuring Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev, was a standout fight in 2021. The Australian fighter pushed the Dagestan native to his limits, nearly securing a victory. Despite this, ‘The Great’ ultimately lost by unanimous decision, leading many to feel he was unfairly denied the win. Nonetheless, Dana White expressed interest in a potential rematch.
On February 12, 2023, in Perth, Australia, R-L Islam Makhachev faced off against Alex Volkanovski in their Lightweight title match at the UFC 284 event held at Rac Arena. The event was captured by photographer xMattxDaviesx and copyrighted as 20230212_zsa_p175_146.
The UFC announced that a rematch would not occur immediately. As Volkanovski had recently won his last fight, it was suggested that he face Makhachev after his UFC 294 match. However, it appears that this may not happen soon as the UFC potentially has alternate plans.
Despite the original plan, it is certain that Ilia Topruia has earned the title through a remarkable performance since joining Dana White’s promotion. He has successfully defeated opponents such as Bryce Mitchell and Josh Emmett to earn the opportunity for a title shot. We must wait and see how this will unfold when he faces the formidable Alexander Volkanovski in the Octagon.
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The post Despite Lip Smacking Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski Rematch Prospect, Dana White and Co. Close to Spoiling Australian’s Double Champ Plan’s With UFC 297 Fight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
