Alexander Volkanovski Pitches Retirement Super Fight with Justin Gaethje
Alexander Volkanovski wants to fight Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title in a retirement bout for both fighters.
Alexander Volkanovski has proposed a blockbuster retirement fight against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, with Gaethje's 155-pound title on the line.
The UFC featherweight champion floated the idea on the WhoTheFookPod, suggesting both men could hang up the gloves after one massive fight. Volkanovski said the lightweight division could sort out its hierarchy afterward.
"Let's do a superfight, lightweight title on the line, and then we can both retire," Volkanovski said, per Bleacher Report.
Volkanovski, who defends his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, has previously challenged for the 155-pound belt twice, losing both bouts to Islam Makhachev. A win over Gaethje would make him a two-division champion and cap one of the greatest careers in UFC history.
The proposal hinges on two things: Volkanovski beating Evloev this weekend, and Gaethje wanting one more fight. Gaethje is currently serving a 180-day medical suspension after his UFC Freedom 250 title win over Ilia Topuria. He sustained significant hand and knee injuries in that fight and has indicated he wants to return no earlier than early 2027, per Bleacher Report.
Gaethje has not guaranteed he will fight again. He asked ESPN's Brett Okamoto, "What's the point of doing rematches?" leaving his future an open question.
Per BJPenn.com, UFC CEO Dana White is "very supportive" of the potential matchup. Fellow featherweight great Max Holloway also weighed in on Volkanovski's immediate challenge, predicting the Evloev title defense will be "a great one."
The complication is Arman Tsarukyan. The No. 1 ranked lightweight contender says the UFC has already agreed that his next fight will be for Gaethje's belt. If the promotion bypasses Tsarukyan for a Volkanovski super fight, it could ignite a firestorm in the lightweight division and raise serious questions about whether rankings mean anything at all.
I love this idea, and I do not care who that makes angry. Volkanovski versus Gaethje for the 155-pound belt, both guys riding off into the sunset? That is the kind of fight that transcends rankings and gives fans something they will talk about for years.
Volk has tried twice for lightweight gold and come up short both times against Makhachev. If he can get past Evloev tomorrow and then beat Gaethje for the title, that is a legendary career capper. And Gaethje is the kind of guy who would absolutely say yes to this. He has always wanted the biggest fights, and going out against a fellow champion fits his personality perfectly.
The problem is Tsarukyan, and he has a legitimate gripe. But the UFC has never been afraid to make the fight that sells the most tickets. If Volk and Gaethje both want this, and Dana is on board, Tsarukyan might be waiting a little longer. Is it fair? No. Is it the fight game? Absolutely.
