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LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 25: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia taunts Brian Ortega in between rounds during their Featherweight title fight during UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 25: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia taunts Brian Ortega in between rounds during their Featherweight title fight during UFC 266 at T-Mobile Arena on September 25, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)
Max Holloway was earlier slated to challenge Alexander Volkanovski in a trilogy at UFC 272, but had to back out because of an injury. Now, the former UFC featherweight champion is medically cleared to resume training and wants to be the backup fighter for the freshly booked featherweight title fight between ‘The Great’ and Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273.
This didn’t go down well with Volkanovski, who ripped into ‘Blessed‘ in a tweet.
He wrote, “@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight. So in other words… he was never injured. Just hoping he doesn’t have to fight me or fight me while I’m preparing for someone… but hey “if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying”… NO.”
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@BlessedMMA wants to be the backup fighter for the fight he was originally scheduled to fight.🤦🏻♂️ so in other words…he was never injured. Just hoping he doesn’t have to fight me or fight me while I’m preparing for someone…but hey “if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying”😆…NO
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) February 9, 2022
Since winning the belt against Holloway at UFC 245, Volkanovski has defended it twice. He defeated the Hawaiian in an immediate rematch via a controversial split decision at UFC 251. Most recently, he entered the octagon to take on Brian Ortega in a fight that had a heated build-up.
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He won the UFC 266 fight via a unanimous decision, but had to fight out of two tough submission holds.
Alexander Volkanovski will defend his title at UFC 273
Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski were going to dish it out at UFC 272. The fight announcement had the fans excited. However, the excitement soon turned into disappointment after Holloway had to back out.
There was a lot of speculation about who would replace the former champion in the fight. There were many suitors but the one that got the last nod was ‘The Korean Zombie.’ Jung and Volkanovski will fight at UFC 273.
It’s OFFICIAL! @UFC & @DanaWhite back in @CityofJax on April 9th! The main event is Alexander Volkanovski vs. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jun. The co-main event is a rematch for the UFC bantamweight title between champ Aljamain Sterling vs. Petr Yan. #UFC273. Thank u Dana! pic.twitter.com/chsjV8sZC0
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) February 6, 2022
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He was the highest-ranked fighter who was coming off a win. Hence, per the champion, ‘The Korean Zombie’ checked all the fight boxes.
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This is a fight not many were expecting to happen. It is a fascinating matchup, and ‘The Korean Zombie’ is a veteran of the division. He can put up a tough challenge for Volkanovski, and fans will be excited to watch them throw it down. The presence of Max Holloway could also be intriguing.
Will ‘Blessed’ get his wish and be installed as the backup at UFC 273?
