Alexander Volkanovski, a celebrated MMA fighter, is contemplating retirement after a few more fights, including his upcoming bout for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314, as he reflects on the physical toll of maintaining elite performance.
Alexander Volkanovski’s time in MMA might be ticking away. In April, he’s set to clash with Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314. This opportunity arises after Ilia Topuria, his former rival, vacated the belt to jump up a weight class. For Volkanovski, this marks his return since losing the title to Topuria. At 36, he hints this could be one of his final bouts.
“I don’t know how much longer I have left in this,” Volkanovski confessed on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Sure, I could keep going for a few more years. But winning the belt and defending it? Even if I win, I’m thinking, ‘Maybe I’m done.’ How long do I really want to push myself? It’s tough being at my level. The expectations are high; it’s grueling work. Pain is part of the package. To be elite, you can’t slack off.”
He continued, “So maybe just a few more fights. Who knows? After a fight, I might feel great and say, ‘Let’s go for seven more!’ But realistically, how much longer can I keep doing this to myself? Eventually, I want to retire peacefully.”
Volkanovski’s legacy as one of the greatest featherweights is already cemented. From 2019 until 2024, he held the featherweight title with five successful defenses. A future UFC Hall of Famer for sure! Now he’s seeking that one last chapter in his storied career.
“I’m pumped for this,” Volkanovski said. “I want to grab that belt again and defend it—maybe even twice! And then perhaps one big fight afterward. We’ll see. But once I’ve got that belt back, I want to stay active. Who’s next? Movsar [Evloev], you ready? Let’s get it on soon after!”
While he plans for just a few more fights, Volkanovski knows plans can change. He envisions wrapping things up soon but admits a stellar performance could make him reconsider.
“That timeline might shift,” he mentioned about retiring. “I want to defend quickly and remind everyone why they call me ‘Great’. Dragging undefeated fighters into the octagon? Yeah, that sounds like me. Let’s see where we stand after that.”
Mark your calendars: UFC 314 is happening on April 12 at Kaseya Center in Miami.