Alexander Volkanovski has proposed a blockbuster superfight against Justin Gaethje that could see both UFC stars retire following a showdown for the lightweight championship.
Volkanovski is preparing to defend his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24. However, the Australian champion is already considering what could come next if he successfully gets past the Russian contender.
Speaking on the WhoTheFook Podcast, Volkanovski suggested that a clash with Gaethje could provide a fitting conclusion to both men's legendary careers, particularly with retirement rumors surrounding the two champions.
“Imagine that? You do that as like a send-off. Gaethje and Volk, like, because he's talking about (fighting again)…does he want to fight still? I think he's like, ‘maybe one more,’ then that could be like a super fight,” Volkanovski said.
The former featherweight champion believes the matchup could be a major attraction, with Gaethje's lightweight title on the line and both fighters potentially walking away from the sport afterward.
“Let's do a super fight, you know, lightweight title on the line, and then we can see everyone off (into retirement) with a crazy super fight. That could be fucking real good. Let's do it,” Volkanovski added.
The Australian also suggested that such a matchup would allow the lightweight division to move forward and establish its next generation of contenders once the two veterans step away.
“And then, straight after that let the division sort themselves out, you know what I mean? And you'll still be happy with that. There you go, let's make that happen.”
Gaethje's Future Remains Uncertain
Despite Volkanovski's enthusiasm, the proposed superfight remains hypothetical. Gaethje has yet to confirm whether he intends to return to the Octagon, as he continues recovering from his brutal battle against Ilia Topuria at the White House earlier this year.
With questions surrounding both fighters' long-term futures, a title fight between Volkanovski and Gaethje would offer a high-profile opportunity to close out two remarkable careers. However, Volkanovski must first get past Evloev at UFC 333 before any potential move to lightweight can become a realistic possibility.
For now, the idea remains a tantalizing prospect rather than a confirmed UFC matchup. If both champions are willing to compete one more time, Volkanovski believes a lightweight title superfight could provide the perfect send-off for two of the sport's biggest names.
