Alexander Volkanovski proposes retirement-stakes superfight with Justin Gaethje

Following his second-round TKO victory over Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has proposed a superfight against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Volkanovski, 38, stated he is willing to retire immediately following the bout, regardless of the outcome, to ensure the fight does not disrupt the rankings or title progression in either the featherweight or lightweight divisions.

Volkanovski expressed a desire to pursue the lightweight title one last time, noting that if he wins and subsequently vacates the belt, it would allow younger contenders to compete for the vacancy. While he acknowledged Arman Tsarukyan as a legitimate top contender in the lightweight division, he believes a high-stakes matchup with Gaethje would be a fitting way to conclude his career.

UFC CEO Dana White responded positively to the proposal, noting that it is difficult to deny requests from a fighter with Volkanovski’s accomplishments. However, no official agreement has been reached, and Gaethje has not yet publicly responded to the challenge.