Alex Volkanovski: "I think Ilia Topuria needs a little bit of humbling

Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, thinks he can teach Ilia Topuria a lesson. ‘The Great’ has been inactive since he took a short-notice rematch with Islam Makhachev last month. He was supposed to fight Charles Oliveira, the lightweight champion, but Oliveira pulled out with an injury.

So Alexander Volkanovski stepped in with two weeks notice. He was knocked out that night at UFC 294, but he has already planned his comeback. In February, he will take on Ilia Topuria. ‘El Matador’ is unbeaten and has a decision victory over Josh Emmett this year.

Alexander Volkanovski is not impressed by Ilia Topuria’s dominance. He told Fox Sports in a recent interview that his next rival is very skilled and versatile, but needs some humbling.

“He’s a powerful dude, he’s good everywhere,” Alexander Volkanovski stated regarding his UFC 298 opponent Ilia Topuria. “He’s not one-dimensional, he’s obviously very well-rounded. I just believe my skills and my understanding of the game are just going to be a little bit too much for him. He’s a young, hungry dude, undefeated, very, very confident. But, I think he needs a little bit of humbling, so I’m glad to be the man to do that.”

He continued, …“I’ve got the right team around me and we just thought that January was too soon [to return]. I was lucky enough to have the UFC and the guys there make that happen and move things around for me, which I’m grateful for, and I think the timing will be perfect.”