Six months after Alex Volkanovski labelled Conor McGregor at the “bottom of the list” for all-time featherweight greats, the Irishman launched his own stunning attack on the Australian UFC star.
Volkanovski is set for a massive showdown against new lightweight champ Islam Makhacheve next February for UFC 284, but McGregor attempted to belittle the Australian’s quest to join the illustrious ‘double-champ status’ next year.
McGregor posted a photo of the duo and said the main card fight would attract little attention and few pay-per-views.
“My two old belts. On two little ticks. This fight does 10 buys,” he tweeted.
The not-so-subtle dig at Volkanovski did not go unnoticed, with the Australian referencing one of McGregor’s former quotes.
“A former wise man once said,” he replied to a previous McGregor tweet, which said “winners focus on winning. Losers focus winners”.
McGregor quickly changed tack, saying he was “happy” for Volkanovski and added that he would be “back” and that “this is not over”.
A respectful Volkanovski said he would “welcome” McGregor back into the fold, with the Irishman not sighted in the octagon since suffering a horrible broken leg in mid-2021.
Not content with the Australian having the last word, McGregor offered some advice – however helpful it was.
I was in your exact spot one time don’t forget. 145 coming up. Good luck,” he said.
“I’d say go heavier. Rugby days. Be a bowling ball. That’s how I’d do it as you. Your condition right now as I see it, I don’t know. But bowling ball style for you for best chance.”
Volkanovski is arguably Australia’s best athlete after rising to the top in the UFC and is one of the best to ever contest at 145 pounds.
Speaking earlier the year, the humble mixed martial artist played down his own status in the sport and said former champion Jose Aldo deserved the crown as the best ever because of his ability to defend his title for so long.
Aldo’s nearly five-year reign at the top came to an end in 2015 when McGregor flattened his rival inside 16 seconds at UFC 194.
But McGregor’s brief reign meant Volkanovski looked over him.
“You need [title] defences, that’s the thing,” Volkanovski said in April.
“I’m going to give him respect. The dude can fight. He made some bad decisions and all that type of stuff but he can fight. To take out Aldo in Aldo’s prime, that’s saying something as well. Aldo is still showing he’s still in his prime, he doesn’t age.
“But again, I feel like I’ve definitely done a lot more than him so out of all the champions, I’d say he would have to be at the bottom of the list. He ain’t gonna like that but whatever.”
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Should McGregor indeed return to the octagon, Volkanovski recently told 7NEWS.com.au that he would like to be his next opponent.
“I think it works because he was a featherweight champion, and he’s the only other featherweight champion I haven’t fought yet,” Volkanovski said.
“It makes a lot of sense.”
He added: “Yes, it is because he’s got a big name. Yes, it is because he is a big draw. It is because there is a lot of money. But at the same time, there is a story behind it.
“He hasn’t lost to a featherweight yet, and I want to be the first one.”
