Alexander Volkanovski will be the backup fighter for the lightweight title bout on UFC 280. Photo: USA Today Sports
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently announced that he will be the backup fighter for the lightweight title bout between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev on October 22.
“It’s Official, I’m the back up fighter for the Light Weight title! See you all in Abu Dhabi,” Volkanovski tweeted.
It’s Official, I’m the back up fighter for the Light Weight title! See you all in Abu Dhabi 👊 #UFC280https://t.co/KkRCv1N04Y
Alexander Volkanovski: “I’ll be at UFC 280 to make weight”
On his YouTube channel the featherweight champion revealed that he is clear to fight at the massive Abu Dhabi event.
“We’re locked in as a backup fighter,” Volkanovski said. “I’ve been calling it, I said I wanted it, just had to make sure the hand was all good, so we’re all good. We’re locked in, and we got the clearance to fight.”
“The UFC is on board, everyone is on board, so I’ll be at UFC 280 to make weight, and yeah, looking forward to it. We’ll see what happens. If someone doesn’t make it, I’m there to save the day. If not, at least I’m locked in as the next guy to fight for that lightweight title, and that’s that.”
Alexander Volkanovski fought at lightweight in his UFC debut back in November 2016. He then moved to featherweight and won the title against Max “Blessed” Holloway at UFC 245. He has successfully defended it four times, against Brian Ortega, Korean Zombie and twice against Holloway.