Alexander Volkanovski has welcomed Henry Cejudo’s return to the USADA Testing pool, but the Australian says he is instead focusing on a move to lightweight and an immediate leap to become a two-division UFC champion.
Following his dominance over Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273, Volkanovski is already laying out his plans for the rest of 2022 – something Cejudo is unlikely to be involved in as athletes typically require six months of testing before they are eligible to compete.
Nonetheless, Volkanovski says he’s glad Cejudo is finally walking the path and not just talking, as has been the case with the Australian’s impressive rise to become one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC.
“Well, at least he is [Cejudo] one step closer to committing to reinforcing what he says because he tweets every time [after I fight]’ Volkanovski told ESPN. “How many times have you heard him say things?
“At least I’m expecting you now [the media] to talk to me about it because he shows at least some kind of commitment [to making a return]. But that does not mean that he is also involved in my area. Anyone would just come back if they could get a title shot in the division they wanted.”
Cejudo called Volkanovski directly on Twitter Monday after manager Ali Abdelaziz previously confirmed to ESPN that his client would be reinstated in the USADA testing pool.
While he’s open to a fight with Cejudo in the future, Volkanovski says the former UFC two-division champion had no right to just walk in and expect a shot at the featherweight title if he hadn’t competed in two years was.
“Get out there and still earn first place,” Volkanovski said. “I think he’s in a much better position than anyone outside of the division to come in and get a title shot. If you go out there and fight a guy, you definitely get that title shot, which is still very fair; I feel like it’s still a great opportunity for him.
“But if he’s expecting to go straight into a title fight, that’s pretty ridiculous. Whether he’s in the test pool to fight bantamweight or featherweight I don’t know. But if he goes to featherweight, then you fight someone and I guess that just sort of puts you at the No. 1 spot in the contender.
While Max Holloway – the American who was Volkanovski’s original opponent at UFC 273 – seems likely to be the Australian’s next opponent, the champion seems more motivated by another challenge.
That comes at lightweight, where he sees himself as deserving of an instant title shot.
No tingling. Plain text only. I entered the USADA pool.
I know I could hit @alexvolkanovski. I want to be the first 3 division champion in UFC history. Or he could shut up. It would be a treat for the fans.
Either way, the đź‘‘ is back! https://t.co/s0CfnTvFOo pic.twitter.com/lsDpJMnSC8
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) April 11, 2022
“I want that this year. That’s something I’m actually looking at next,” he told ESPN. “Like I said, during this division [featherweight] sorts itself out; I do my part, I don’t want to perpetuate divisions. But if this division is being held up, it’s because the competitors aren’t taking that No. 1 spot. It has nothing to do with me.
“So if [they’re] I’ll do this, I want to be active, I’ll level up, I’ll exercise my options because I’m not stopping anyone and I carry my share. So if people don’t want to do their part, let’s have fun, let’s have these money fights, let’s have this double champion status [fights], let’s do all this stuff while this is happening. And I think I’m in a good and fair position to claim double champion status.”
Asked if he was wrong when he said Cejudo should work his way up to a title shot and then expect a lightweight himself immediately, Volkanovski pointed out that he’s fought non-stop since first joining the UFC in 2016 .
“I think I deserve a chance to be that [lightweight] Champion,” he said. “I was talking about someone who’s retired, when we’re talking about Henry going straight into a featherweight division, I’m talking about someone who’s been retired for a few years; I don’t even know how long?
“He’s never fought for one in the division and is retired … so I’m saying I feel like he has to do something [first]. If he was still the bantamweight champion and had a few defenses, then fine, he’s got some traction now. Now he has something behind it, there is a lot of weight behind it.
“While I’m in a position where I’ve knocked out the GOATs [Jose Aldo and Holloway]I’m going out there absolutely dominating these guys, four title fights, three defenses, I’m not maintaining the division.
“Well, I haven’t asked about it until now; You didn’t see that I asked for it [after the win over Jung] and i’m not asking for it now, but you haven’t really seen me asking for it until now, that just shows you what kind of guy i am. And what I say about Henry Cejudo is true; he has to earn it.
“But I feel like I’m in the position where I deserve a shot at this lightweight Alexander Volkanovski wants lightweight title shot, welcomes Henry Cejudo’s return, so I’m going to call now. That’s where we are right now.”
When asked if he would be willing to fight the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje, the lightweight title showdown scheduled for UFC 274 next month, later this year, Volkanovski said he is ready walk.
“August sounds great, and it sounds great in Australia too,” he told ESPN. “I know Dana [White] is not so sure [fighting in Australia] but we will have those talks and see what we can do. Because I have a feeling that it wouldn’t exist [many] Hurdles to having it in Australia.
“They still want to know what the country is all about [COVID restrictions] So we’re going to have those talks and see what we can do because I need to defend my felt in Australia as soon as possible.
“I want my next fight in Australia and I think we deserve it.”