Jean Silva hits back at Volkanovski's coach Joe Lopez over claim he doesn't deserve title shot
Silva said Volkanovski had named him as next before his coach spoke, and urged the champion to stay at featherweight and fight him.
Jean Silva has hit back at Alexander Volkanovski's coach Joe Lopez, who said the Brazilian does not deserve a shot at the UFC featherweight title.
Lopez has said he would like Volkanovski to fight Aljamain Sterling next, if Sterling beats Kevin Vallejos in November.
"As I said before, I do not accept someone saying that I'm not the most deserving or that I don't deserve (a title shot), I accept people not wanting to face me but not to say 'You are not the most deserving for this title'," Silva said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
Silva said the UFC had run a public fan vote on who should be next and that he "got that nod".
"I question this a little bit because Volk said my name he said I should be next, he's praised me, and then his coach comes out, so there's a bit of a disconnect there," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he comes out after this interview from Lopez and says, 'No, Silva should be next'."
The 29-year-old also urged Volkanovski to stay at 145lb rather than move up to lightweight. "A fight between me and him would be totally on the feet. ... Retire me, let's go," Silva said.
Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev in round two at UFC 333 on Saturday 24 October to keep the title, then called out Justin Gaethje for a fight at 155lb. He has said he would vacate the featherweight title to fight Arman Tsarukyan, and before UFC 333 he named Silva and Sterling as featherweight options.
Silva, who is on a two-fight win streak since his knockout loss to Diego Lopes, has said title talks with the UFC have already happened. No fight has been booked.
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