Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t lack the options for defensive next titles.
The title photos in the UFC Featherweight division have probably been more open than they have been in the years, allowing some celebrities to sway. One of those names fell out last weekend when Jansilva was finished by former title challenger Diego Lopez in the main event of Noche UFC, but the other men fighting for cracking belts are equally locked up.
It all started with Lerown Murphy, who was out of Aaron Pico’s sensational knockout at UFC 319. Murphy is rumoured to be a front runner to face Volkanovsky.
“It’s going on!!! Let’s go to Volkanovsky. It was a great battle.”
“Wait a second, bulb…”
Former bantamweight champion Sterling is away from his own big victory, a unanimous decision over Brian Ortega at UFC Shanghai after Ortega missed his weight badly.
On Monday, Murphy once again reaffirmed his claims for the title fight, leading to both men making their claims and digging into each other.
“What’s Arjo’s name in the mix? I’m confused. 2-2 of his teammates in his final four matches. He was a good bantamweight but average featherweight.
“Diego did something amazing for Silva, but there’s not much change in the rematch against Volk. People want to see a new matchup. I’m 17-0 for a 17-0 reason. That’s my time!”
“You’ll take down the Bellator guy, Brody, run the circle from Emmett and finish two entire UFC careers.
I’m a former champion with 3x defending, beating twice the title challenger, and the UFC has almost three times the win over you. Brother, I’m next. My name makes perfect sense and can show miracles. ”
“Pico beats you, 100%, and you know that. And I did three finishes in the UFC. Bro I don’t trust your resume with Bantamweight, but you don’t touch gold at featherweight.”
“I like Murphy. He has an interesting style of problem solving. But saying my name doesn’t belong to the mix shows his anxiety. I’ve never turned down a fight. I see what the boss and Volk want to do.”
And then there’s Movsar Evloev. Evloev was undefeated in his career, beating him in the UFC 310 in December to win Sterling. He was originally supposed to be a man fighting Aaron Pico, but he retreated and allowed Murphy to intervene to get the victory of his signature. In fact, Evloev is a nominee for number one, and previously attracted attention from Volkanovski, but it still appears to be looking for a title shot. But he is trying to change that and makes his own claim on Monday.
“Congratulations, Diego Lopez, let’s have a rematch. Maybe.
“I’m the only one who can defeat Volk right now, but if I have to fight Leloné and Diego, I have no problem doing it.”
“Hey, you probably haven’t gotten this title shot, and you’ll be a fight, I look forward to it.
“I defeated Diego Lopez, Arnold Allen and Aljaman Sterling with such ease, no one deserves anything.
It is unclear who will come out of the three pack to fight for the title next, and Volkanovski said he doesn’t care much. He is ready to fight the person the UFC places before him, and is targeting his return to December.