AUSTRALIA’S Alexander Volkanovski is set to return to the ring in February – a month after initially planned – as part of what shapes as a blockbuster 2024.
UFC president Dana White revealed on Tuesday morning that Volkanovski would be one of three champions to put their titles on the line in the first third of the new year.
In a video posted to social media, White announced the title fights that will headline three separate pay-per-views to open the new year – involving Volk, UFC middleweight champ Sean Strickland and new bantamweight No. 1 Sean O’Malley.
Strickland, who won his title in Sydney by upsetting Israel Adesanya, will defend for the first time in January against South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis – who earned his shot after defeating Australia’s Robert Whittaker in July.
Volkanovski will put his UFC featherweight title on the line against Ilia Topuria in February, with O’Malley to face Marlon Vera in March.
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Currently, only Strickland has an official date — UFC 297 on January 21 in Toronto, Canada.
While Volkanovski had initially wanted to headline that card himself, he will now go back a month after being knocked out in his recent quest to upset UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
In his announcement, White did not reveal specific dates or locations for Volkanovski.
The Aussie poster boy will make his hyped return to featherweight after twice attempting at claim UFC ‘champ champ’ status against Makhachev.
After losing to the Dagestani star in February, ‘The Great’ then took the rematch on just 11 days notice for UFC 294 – but was kayoed via head kick in the first round.
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Those two losses, up a weight class, are the only two defeats suffered in the UFC octagon by Volkanovski, who now looks to make his sixth consecutive featherweight defence against the undefeated Topuria.
O’Malley, meanwhile, is looking to defend his belt for the first time after claiming it from Aljamain Sterling in August at UFC 292.
That same night, Vera defeated Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision for his fifth victory in his past six fights.
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