UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski knows he has a target on his back.
Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) runs things back with Diego Lopes (27-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 325 (Paramount+) main event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
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Jean Silva rebounded with a win over Arnold Allen this past Saturday at UFC 324. Meanwhile, undefeated contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy felt like they should have been challenging Volkanovski at UFC 325, but the champion sees that being cleared up very soon.
“I thought that was going to be a real challenge for him and he passed it,” Volkanovski told reporters of Silva at UFC 325 media day (h/t TheMacLife). “He looked good in them later rounds as well. So, that’s what you want to see from a prospect. A guy that’s going to be pretty calculated in Arnold, and even Arnold’s quite fit as well.
“He’s got the cardio, but Silva’s showing that he’s got the cardio to get through there and get the win against someone like that was very promising. Has he earned a title shot just yet? I don’t think so. But like I said, it’s pretty obvious I think you’re going to get Movsar or Lerone Murphy fighting and that obviously makes the most sense especially with their records and the resume they have, legacy wise, that looks great for me.”
Volkanovski made it clear he has no intentions of walking away after UFC 325. The 37-year-old said he’s also open to welcoming Arman Tsarukyan to featherweight after the No. 1 lightweight contender entertained that idea.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Alexander Volkanovski weighs in on most worthy featherweight contender
