Among the 911 active athletes on the UFC’s current roster, very few have made it to the good books of UFC head honcho Dana White. Of course, Jon Jones tops the list (from a company-man perspective), but there are a handful of names we can think of that Dana White has a soft spot for. Among them is former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. Having the rare combination of being a company man, and a people’s fighter, ‘The Great’ has a reputation for stepping up and fighting whoever the promotion puts in front of him.

From beating Max Holloway thrice to wiping out top players like Brian Ortega, the Korean Zombie, and Yair Rodriguez as a champion, not to mention steamrolling fighters on the way to the title — Alexander Volkanovski cemented his place as one of the greatest featherweights and fighters in the UFC. And UFC head honcho Dana White knows this too well and appreciates the Australian legend for all he has achieved, and done for the company. This is why White granted Alexander Volkanovski a rare opportunity that he hardly graces even to his most dominant champions like Islam Makhachev or even Jon Jones for that matter.

The big question now lies in when and whom the former champion faces next. UFC CEO Dana White recently sat down for a chat with Mark Bouris and made a huge announcement. According to the 55-year-old, Volk can face anyone he wants on his return. He said, “Volk’s a legend. I mean if you look at what the guy has done in this sport and in that division, he’s an absolute legend… He’s the guy that, you know there’s been these situations where we picked up the phone and said, ‘We need you’, and he’s an absolute stud, absolute legend, and whatever he wants to do next, I am in.” 

Of course, most people think Volkanovski might face Ilia Topuria in his next outing, but given that there’s no confirmation or announcement from the company’s side, and if you couple in Topuria’s uncertainty in the division (which he was vocal about), we don’t know the state of that bout yet. We can’t blame the fans for wanting that rematch especially since ‘El Matador’ said that Volk “deserves” the rematch at the UFC 308 Octagon interview.

Recently, rising middleweight prospect Bo Nickal stirred excitement by claiming that the UFC had ‘officially’ decided on a rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria for UFC 314 in April. However, Dana White has yet to confirm any such plans, leaving the bout shrouded in uncertainty. Meanwhile, another interesting development has emerged which might excite fans.

Alexander Volkanovski’s next fight is still a surprise for many out there

MMA reporter Leo Guimaraes recently revealed that Dana White is actively working on a major headliner for the UFC’s upcoming Fight Night event in Mexico City. Set for March 29, the promotion is reportedly eyeing a showdown between Alexander Volkanovski and rising contender Diego Lopes for the main event. Historically, the UFC’s go-to venue in Mexico City has been the 22,300-seat Arena CDMX, but as of now, not a single fight has been officially confirmed for the card.

This might not be a major setback for Alexander Volkanovski, as he had already considered the possibility of not receiving an immediate title shot upon his return. Keeping his options open, he even entertained the idea of a clash with Max Holloway in a No. 1 contender’s bout, especially after ‘Blessed’ fell short against Ilia Topuria. However, with Diego Lopes now emerging as a fresh contender in the title mix, a showdown between him and ‘The Great’ is beginning to sound like an exciting alternative.

Well for the moment it all depends on who the UFC wants him to fight next. But who do you want the former champion to face next in his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.