Why Aussie octagon superstar Alex Volkanovski will knock back chance to headline Sydney UFC card

UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski will likely knock back the chance to headline a Sydney blockbuster card in September to instead try for a superfight rematch with Islam Makhachev in October.

Volkanovski is next scheduled to meet interim champ Yair Rodriguez in a title unification bout at UFC 290, which takes place on July 8 in Las Vegas.

It will be the Aussie’s fifth defence of his 145-pound strap against one of the division’s most dangerous and unorthodox strikers in Rodriguez.

Should Volkanovski win, there was some speculation that ‘The Great’ would back up nine weeks later to defend his title again in Sydney at UFC 293.

Undefeated breakout star Ilia Topuria has stated that he’d like to travel to Australia and fight Volkanovski if he is successful against Rodriguez – but Volkanovski’s manager says they have bigger fish to fry with a Makhachev rematch.

Volkanovski is planning on a second superfight with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev

‘We want Makhachev in October,’ Ash Belcastro told foxsports.com.au.

‘And if Alex goes out there and puts on a cracking performance against Rodriguez, we think it warrants another shot at the UFC lightweight title.

‘First time around, we felt like Alex won that fight.

‘And we know it’s definitely going to be a different fight next time.

‘We also know the NRL really want Alex to be part of what they’re doing next March and it all sets up well, timing wise, for that to happen.’

Discussions are underway to launch the 2024 NRL season in conjunction with title bouts involving both Volkanovski and Sydney boxer Tim Tszyu.

Belcastro also explained that Volkanovski was given the option of sitting out and waiting for the Makhachev rematch, but the Aussie wanted to stay active and decided to take on Rodriguez.

‘After the Makhachev fight, the UFC gave us the option to sit out,’ Belcastro said.

‘We could wait until October, with the UFC featherweight division then continuing on with an interim title, or we could go again.

Volkanovski is next scheduled to meet dangerous interim champ Yair Rodriguez in a title unification bout at UFC 290 in just under a fortnight

Volkanovski has said he’s happy to take on undefeated contender Ilia Topuria down the track

‘And Alex, he’s a gamer. He wants to stay active.

‘So we’ve decided to go again.

‘Alex wants a challenge, somebody who is going to get him out of bed every day, and Yair definitely brings a look we haven’t seen before.

‘So Alex is looking to put on another great performance and move on.’

Volkanovski said earlier in the week that he’d be interested in giving Ilia Topuria a shot at the featherweight title somewhere down the track.

‘I’m hearing a lot of people mentioning other guys, Ilia fighting other guys – I’m like, ‘No,” Volkanovski said during an interview with Daniel Cormier and Ryan Clark.

‘Don’t do it. Just give me a guy. Give me a contender. To be honest, I’m not going to say too much. I think he’s a good fighter. But the more I speak, the less I’m going to hype up the fight. I think he’s great.’