UFC 251 Perth: Alexander Volkanovski cleared for title defence
Top UFC brass believe Alexander Volkanovski is just one win away from becoming a bona fide global superstar - it’s just a question of who that victory will come against.
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Alexander Volkanovski has been medically cleared to defend his UFC featherweight title on home soil in June, a decision that could catapult the fighter up among Australia’s breakout athletes of 2020.
News Corp can reveal Volkanovski, who is currently recovering from a broken right hand, has been given the green light from surgeons to headline UFC 251 in Perth, June 7.
The Wollongong slugger, who arrived in Las Vegas overnight, will meet with UFC president Dana White, who has already stated his desire for the new champ to rematch Hawaiian legend Max Holloway.
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Back in December, Volkanovski stunned the fight world when he scored a unanimous decision win over the man widely regarded as the greatest featherweight of all time, despite fighting for up to 10 minutes with a busted hand.
Until this week, the 31-year-old Aussie was still unsure if the hand, which also suffered serious ligament damage, would be healed in time for the Perth card, which will also feature women’s flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko.
Yet during an interview in the New York New York casino, Volkanovski confirmed he had been cleared for June, revealing: “They’ve said it will be OK.
“The bone is good.
“I’m still strapping it and, in terms of punching, I’ll be careful.
“But they’ve told me not to stress … we can get into training now.”
As for the ligaments around the break, Volkanovski revealed they were more of a problem.
“They might not be healed by June,” he said. “And eventually might need surgery.
“But I’ll worry about that after.
“If you’re asking me about UFC 251, I want to fight. And they’ve said I can.
“It just means I’ll probably get arthritis quicker than I should. But that’s the price you pay as a fighter.”
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Privately, UFC officials believe an Australian title defence will see Volkanovski’s popularity skyrocket among the wider sports public, especially if he beats Holloway a second time.
“And that’s why it has to be Perth for me,” the champ said. “Why I’m hoping now, everyone that needs to can make the fight happen.
“I know talks still need to take place.
“But I don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.
“The chance to defend a UFC title on home soil, it’s not only what I want but something Aussie sports fans deserve too.
“And I’d love to have the whole of Australia backing me.
“I want to pack out Perth Arena and really give fans something to cheer about.”
Certainly UFC officials will be well aware of Volkanovski’s recovery rate after the father-of-two, only hours after arriving in the world’s fight capital, went and trained at the company’s Performance Institute.
Elsewhere, the champ is also embarking on a whirlwind media tour through both Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with a host of appearances including ESPN and the Joe Rogan Experience, one of largest podcasts on the planet.