UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski would fight MMA legend Conor McGregor at “any weight” to ensure the mouth-watering mega-fight took place.
McGregor hasn‘t set foot in a cage since badly breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July last year at UFC 264 in Las Vegas.
During his extended absence, there’s been no shortage of speculation regarding who his next opponent will be once he fully recovers.
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And after defending his title for the fourth time in July, and subsequently becoming the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Volkanovski has been the latest name added to the growing list of prospective match-ups for McGregor.
Volkanovski would have no qualms taking on McGregor at welterweight – two weight divisions higher than featherweight.
McGregor is a former featherweight champion and was the first ever fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously (featherweight and lightweight).
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“It is a big fight and I’ve worked hard to be in a position I am now, to get a fight like that would be incredible,” Volkanovski told Fox Sports Australia.
“But then you’ve got that little bit on top where I’ve fought (Jose) Aldo, I’ve fought Max Holloway, every other champion in my division I’ve fought except for Conor McGregor.
“Even if it’s at 170, then I’ve done something that no one in my division has done.”
No.14-ranked lightweight Dan Hooker said the fight “makes sense”, especially since Volkanovski replaced Kumaru Usman atop the pound-for-pound rankings.
“There’s only one way to show pound-for-pound and that is to fight at any weight,” Hooker said.
“I think you (Volkanovski) are like head and shoulders the No.1 most likely I would say next in line to fight Conor.
“For me it would be you, then Michael Chandler and then maybe Charles Oliveira. I would say that’s the top three.
“You go up to 170, he (McGregor) comes back, I think that fight sells – he’s still Conor McGregor, people can say whatever they want to say about him, he’s still very dangerous and … the guy’s following is incredible.”
Volkanovski is riding an incredible 22-fight winning streak which dates back to December 2013.
