Alexander Volkanovski pitches Justin Gaethje superfight as joint retirement plan

The UFC featherweight champion wants a non-title fight with the lightweight champion, after which both men would vacate their belts and retire. He first defends his title against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on Saturday.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Wed 21 Oct, 05:06 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Alexander Volkanovski has proposed a farewell fight with Justin Gaethje in which neither belt would be at stake. Once it was over, the featherweight and lightweight champions would both vacate their titles and retire.

The idea differs from Volkanovski's pitch last week, when he suggested a Gaethje superfight with the lightweight title on the line. Under the new plan neither division would be held up while the two champions meet.

Volkanovski told MMA Junkie that people had read more into his earlier mention of a retirement fight than he intended. He said he had not meant that his next fight had to be his last.

Gaethje has openly considered retirement, and Volkanovski said he understood the lightweight champion was unsure what he wanted to do. He suggested that if Gaethje fought once more, the pair could have their superfight, give up their belts and leave the featherweight and lightweight divisions to sort out new champions while they retired together.

Volkanovski said he believed such an ending had never been done before and would make a good story.

Before any of that, Volkanovski (28-4) must defend his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev in the UFC 333 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Gaethje became undisputed lightweight champion at UFC Freedom 250 in June.

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Alexander Volkanovski Justin Gaethje Movsar Evloev