Between Calvin Kattar vs Josh Emmett, Brian Ortega vs Yair Rodriguez, and Calvin Kattar vs Arnold Allen, he expected someone to make a statement. But two of those crucial fights ended due to injury and the other was controversial.
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“I was waiting for a real statement. It was disappointing me, and I was bloody sad that no one could make that statement,” Volkanovski said. “You had three guys (Emmett, Rodriguez, Allen) and someone was going to have to miss out; no matter who it was, they would all have been disappointed. They are all in the same boat.”
That’s why Rodriguez and Emmett will be competing for the interim UFC featherweight title in UFC 284’s co-main event and Volkanovski expects Arnold to be next after that.
“I’m fine with that. I don’t think it’s disrespectful at all. I was okay with it before I even go the lightweight title fight,” Volkanovski said of the interim belt. “Now that Rodriguez and Emmett are fighting, they are going to give me a clear number one guy. It’s setting up my clear next fight at featherweight. I’m looking forward to that. Glad it’s on the same card as me and Islam.”
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All that Volkanovski wants is to fight the best. That’s why he’s challenging Makhachev and that’s why he wants one of the featherweight contenders to come to the forefront.
“UFC 284 is going to be a night that people are going to talk about,” Volkanovski said. “I could have just got healthy, defended my belt, stayed on top, and added to my winning streak at featherweight. But that’s just not how I am. What’s bigger than that is taking on fights like this one with Makhachev. You want people to think there is things you can’t do and then go prove them wrong.”
“This is the s*** that can get you from being great to being one of the greatest.”