'Ruined the chances': Volk's back, but fears a home farewell might be unattainable

Australia's UFC superstar Alexander Volkanovski jokes he's probably ruined his chances for a retirement fight on home soil.

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Volkanovski is looking to "sail off into the sunset" with a lightweight title fight against fellow veteran Justin Gaethje, after claiming a record-extending ninth UFC featherweight title fight win.

Alexander Volkanovski is still on top of the world after his record-extending ninth title fight win. Picture AAP

The 38-year-old pulled off a stunning second-round TKO of previously unbeaten Russia's Movsar Evloev to defend his featherweight crown on Sunday (AEDT).

A retirement fight against Gaethje would present Volkanovski with the opportunity to go full circle in his legendary career.

Gaethje - who turns 38 next month - won the lightweight title in June on the UFC White Housecard with a TKO of defending champion Ilia Topuria, the man who ended Volkanovski's first stint as featherweight champion.

UFC boss Dana White appeared happy to oblige Volkanovski's request to face American fighter Gaethje following the featherweight bout, saying "there's not much we're going to say no to with him".

But it's the matter of "where'' that might prove a sticking point.

A Wollongong local, Volkanovski would naturally want the bout to take place in Sydney, but concedes the scale of the spectacle might force organisers to host the event in the US.

The two-time featherweight champion had already been granted a Sydney fight in February and beat Diego Lopes in his first home match since 2017.

Volkanovski spoke to media in Sydney on Monday after jetting back home to rejoin wife Emma for their wedding anniversary.

"That's probably why they did the last one in Sydney, because they probably thought, 'Maybe he's retiring'," Volkanovski said.

"Everyone had to do a lot of work to make that happen, because that wasn't easy.

"It was meant to be a Fight Night, and then trying to make it a pay-per-view - there was a lot happening in the background to make that happen.

"So I probably ruined the chances of getting a retirement fight here, but you never know.

"If it is just a defence and I choose to retire, and it is a retirement fight, they might make that happen.

"But if it is for something like a lightweight title, that might be a little bit harder."

A rematch against Topuria is another option, but Volkanovski can't resist the allure of the retirement storyline with Gaethje.

"That's the coolest story," Volkanovski said.

"I'm like, wait a second, if Justin Gaethje and myself have a retirement fight, both of us fight, and retire, vacate our belts, have one last crack, then we're not holding up the divisions.

"They can sort themselves out ... let these two old fellas go have a crack, and then we can just sail off into the sunset.

"I just feel like that's something that's never been done ... it's just, is it something that Gaethje wants to do?

"We'll see, but for me, that sounds great."

Alexander Volkanovski would relish a potential retirement superfight against fellow UFC superstar and lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, after retaining his featherweight crown with a stunning second-round TKO of previously unbeaten Russian Movsar Evloev.

Headlining the UFC 333 card in Abu Dhabi, Volkanovski was considered the underdog in some quarters, but the 38-year-old Australian proved too good for his younger opponent, the No.1 contender on Sunday AEST.

Alex Volkanovski scored a second-round win. Picture AP

He got Evloev down to the ground with some precise, hurtful punching and landed some brutal ground and pound to force referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight with six seconds of the second round remaining.

Volkanovski insisted in the fight buildup that he was a bad stylistic match for Evloev and could finish him early.

And the champion kept a midweek wedding anniversary promise to his wife to have a quick win as he earned his first stoppage finish in six bouts since 2023.

He was reportedly hit by sickness in the leadup to the fight but brushed it off saying he was "good enough to get out there and get it done."

It was a record-extending ninth UFC featherweight title fight win over two reigns for the fighter from Windang on the NSW South coast.

American Gaethje, who turns 38 next month, won the lightweight title last June on the UFC White House card with a TKO of defending champion Ilia Topuria, the man who ended Volkanovski's first stint as featherweight champion.

"Whether it's both our retirement fight and put it on the line, which would be cool, a little bit of a super fight and 38-year-olds, just going at it and then we'll leave it all and let all the young fellows sort themselves out," Volkanovski said.

"Thats something I would retire for, if they wanted to give me that opportunity I would retire, win or lose."

Asked about a potential Volkanovski-Gaethje matchup, UFC boss Dana White said "when you've accomplished what he (Volkanovski) has accomplished there's not much we're going to say no to with him.

Alex Volkanovski showed no signs of slowing down as he nears the end of his career. Picture AP

"The guy is an absolute stud, coming in and beating an undefeated younger (fighter) ...Volkanovski is incredible."

Volkanovski (29-4) landed some good kicks and punches in the first couple of minutes.

Elite wrestler Evloev (20-1) took Volkanovski down three times in the last couple of minutes of the first round, but the Australian quickly bounced back to his feet each time.

The champion had a cut on his face in the second round, but in the last few seconds bloodied Evloev's face, as his crisp, accurate punches found their mark.

Evloev, 32, landed some good strikes, but couldn't maintain the pressure on the wily champion, who made a second successful defence of his second reign.

"He's like good wine, older, stronger, better, he's truly a legend," Evloev said.

In a thrilling co-main event, Russia's Petr Yan retained the bantamweight world title with a unanimous points decision over Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili, beating him for the second time. In three fights.

Yan, who has trained alongside Volkanovski in Thailand, suggested he could move up to featherweight to challenge the Australian, while Aljamain Sterling and Jean Silva could also be in contention for a title shot if the bout with Gaethje doesn't eventuate.

In the prelims, Australians recorded a win and two losses against Russian opponents.

Volkanovski's stablemate, bantamweight Colby Thicknesse, scored a third straight win and a big upset with a split decision victory over previously unbeaten Asaf Chopurov.

For Illawarra UFC fighter Colby 'Slickness' Thicknesse, Alex 'The Great' Volkanovski is more than a UFC champion to look up to.

He is the fighter he grew up watching, the teammate helping him guide his career and the mentor showing him what it takes to reach the top of the UFC.

Now, as both fighters prepare to fight on the same card at UFC 333 this weekend in Abu Dhabi, their relationship has come full circle, from a young boy watching a champion's rise, to a fighter beginning to follow in his footsteps.

Colby 'Slickness' Thicknesse and Alex 'The Great' Volkanovski are on the same card this weekend at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. Picture by Anna Warr

Volkanovski's longtime coach Joe Lopez has watched that journey unfold from inside the Freestyle MMA gym at Windang, where the UFC featherweight champion has become an important figure in the development of the next generation.

"Colby has been here since he was a little kid," Lopez said.

"He has watched Volk grow and progress and he is now following in his footsteps."

Volkanovski has built a reputation through years of discipline, sacrifices and success at the highest level of mixed martial arts.

For Thicknesse, who fights as a bantamweight and has trained with Volkanovski since he was 11-years-old, having such an inspirational fighter close by offers something no highlight reel or championship belt can provide, a first-hand look at what it takes to be a UFC champion.

The pair spend time together sparring during fight camps, with plenty of banter thrown around as seen recently when Thicknesse referred to Volkanovski as 'The Average' during a news conference before UFC 333.

As 27-year-old Thicknesse continues to develop his own UFC career, Volkanovski's influence could prove just as valuable as the lessons delivered by his coaches.

The UFC great is not simply someone to emulate from a distance. He is a teammate who understands the demands of the sport, the pressure of competing on the big stage and the work required long before a fighter walks into the octagon.

With Thicknesse and Volkanovski preparing to compete on the same card at UFC 333, the next chapter of their journey will play out on one of the sport's biggest stages in Abu Dhabi.

Lopez said the atmosphere surrounding Volkanovski, Thicknesse and the team reflects the culture at Freestyle MMA that has helped produce fighters capable of reaching championship level.

"The preparation for the fights have been good and we are excited to have both Volk and Colby fighting on the same card," Lopez said.

"We have another girl fighting on the UAE Warriors event and three people going over to fight.

"We have guys fighting in a couple of weeks as well and the team has been really busy with fights.

"The energy in the gym has been so positive and the atmosphere is electric."

Volkanovski's influence over Thicknesse and the rest of the fighters at Freestyle MMA may ultimately extend beyond his fighting career.

While retirement remains an unknown for the 38-year-old with his immediate focus being his fight against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333, his work with younger fighters offers a glimpse of what the next stage could look like when the time eventually arrives to step away from competition.

Lopez is not prepared to predict when that day will arrive, but the qualities that have made him a champion are already being passed on inside the gym.

Volkanovski's growing profile outside the octagon is another sign that there could be life beyond fighting.

The UFC great has recently stepped into acting, appearing in Street Fighter, with the film's Sydney premiere coinciding with the final stages of preparation for his next fight.

The filming was completed well before fight camp, allowing him to pursue the opportunity without disrupting preparations.

And with Volkanovski's outgoing personality, Lopez can see why acting might suit him.

"If the role is right, I'm guessing he would suit it," Lopez said.

As for whether Hollywood could become the next destination once his time in the octagon is over, Lopez offered a simple perspective.

"Why not? It's better than getting punched in the face."

For now, Volkanovski's focus remains on defending his featherweight belt in the UFC. But whether his future involves another chapter on screen, a deeper coaching role or something entirely different, his impact is already reaching beyond his own achievements.

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