Although nothing is official, rumor has it Alexander Volkanovski will rematch featherweight champion Ilia Topuria someday this yr, and the previous pound-for-pound king is preparing.
Over the weekend, Volkanovski launched his first coaching camp video, going behind the scenes with the previous featherweight champion as he will get locked in for a struggle he hopes will likely be introduced quickly, together with displaying coaching footage of Volkanovski working with former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
“We simply obtained right here in Thailand — Phuket. … Bought in final night time,” Volkanovski mentioned. “Clearly, I’m right here to do a bit of coaching camp. Hopefully a struggle announcement quickly. However we’re in camp. We’ve been in camp for some time, doing a pre-camp camp. So now we’re just about in camp.
“Good our bodies right here for us already. At Bangtao, you’ve all the time obtained good our bodies, however I’ve obtained Craig Jones that’s include us. … We’ve obtained a heap of fine guys to work with over right here. I feel Aljo is over right here as effectively, so perhaps we’ll get some coaching in. So it’s going to be an excellent journey.”
Volkanovski and Sterling had overlapping title reigns, with Volkanovski holding the featherweight belt from 2019 to 2024, whereas Sterling held the bantamweight strap from 2021 to 2023. Now, each Sterling and Volkanovski discover themselves chasing the featherweight title, and Sterling relishes the chance to coach with one of many division’s all-time greats.
“I don’t know what we’re doing, however we’re sparring,” Sterling mentioned. “Extra for him than for my very own private acquire. That’s simply sort of the way in which we do issues again residence. … simply attempt to give the seems of our opponents to make it as sensible as doable, so we are able to get that struggle really feel.
“That is truly my first time coaching with Volk. We’ve seen one another in passing a bunch of various occasions, on the UFC PI, combating occasions and issues like that. This has been a cool expertise to sort of work with one of many different biggest guys of all-time within the featherweight division. So that is very nice.”
Once more, nothing is official however rumor is that the UFC is concentrating on UFC 314 for the rematch between Volkanovski and Topuria, which takes place on April 12 in Miami.
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Mates. Watch Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira focus on presumably coaching collectively in Brazil.
Each end from UFC Vegas 102.
Relive one of the best of Dominick Cruz.
Tom Aspinall towards the World’s Strongest Man.
Alex Pereira interview.
Good Man/Unhealthy Man
On To The Subsequent One.
Struggle.
Conor on the punch machine.
29 years is a powerful run.
It’s an true honor for me to rejoice my twenty ninth anniversary of being the “Voice Of The Octagon” because it was 29 years in the past on February 16, 1996 that I first stepped into the Octagon at UFC 8 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico to announce the preliminary fights. I’m each honored & very grateful… pic.twitter.com/cdnmW0gBzF
— Bruce Buffer (@brucebuffer) February 18, 2025
Farewell.
Joshua Van (12-2) vs. Rei Tsuruya (10-0); UFC 313, March 8.
Miesha Tate (20-9) vs. Yana Santos (15-8); UFC Struggle Evening, Might 3.
Truthfully, want Volk wasn’t so set on getting the featherweight strap again, as a result of him vs. Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira or anybody else at 155 may very well be enjoyable as hell. As an alternative, he’ll transfer up after taking one other L and the luster will likely be gone.
Ballot
Who wins this weekend?
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