UFC champ Volkanovski proposes 'send off' superbout vs. Gaethje

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has proposed a "send-off" superfight between himself and defending lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Volkanovski (28-4) is scheduled to defend his 145-pound title against Movsar Evloev (20-0) at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Arguably the greatest featherweight of all time, Volkanovski has acknowledged he is approaching the end of his career at 38 years old. Gaethje, 37, has acknowledged the same, since he claimed the UFC's 155-pound title for the first time in June. With both champions seemingly near the end of their time in the Octagon, Volkanovski has suggested a winner-take-all scenario in 2027. "Imagine that, do it as a send-off," Volkanovski told "Who Da Fook Are These Guys?" podcast. "Gaethje, Volk. I think he's said that he maybe has one more. That could be a superfight. Let's do a superfight with the lightweight title on the line. We can both see everyone off with a crazy superfight. That could be really good." Volkanovski, of Australia, has already tried to capture the lightweight title. He famously challenged then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev twice in a 10-month span in 2023. He suffered a razor-close decision loss to Makhachev in their first meeting in February, and then lost by first-round knockout in a rematch that was scheduled on short notice in October. Gaethje (28-5) has not even guaranteed whether he will fight again or retire off his historic win at the White House in June, but has stated he believes his next challenger would be lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. Volkanovski appears to be throwing his name into the mix, in the hope of changing those plans. "He's said, 'What's the point of doing rematches,'" Volkanovski said. "Let's do a superfight, then straight away after, let the divisions sort themselves out. The UFC would be happy for that. Let's make it happen."