Ilia Topuria reveals why he won’t fight Alexander Volkanovski again as Justin Gaethje superfight emerges

Ilia Topuria has delivered an extraordinary reason for not wanting to fight Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski again.

He likes him too much.

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The man who ended Volk’s first UFC featherweight title reign has paid a glowing tribute to his former rival, declaring the Windang Warrior the greatest fighter the division has ever seen.

And while Volkanovski has expressed some interest in another crack at Topuria, the feeling isn’t mutual for the former two-division champ.

Speaking to Spanish MMA journalist Alvaro Colmenero, Topuria said he didn’t want to fight the Australian again.

“I have so much affection and respect for him that I couldn’t hit him,” said Topuria.

“I like him too much.

“There are already things I don’t want to do. What for? It would be a very competitive fight, even though I beat him once.”

Topuria knocked out Volk in the second round at UFC 298 in February 2024, bringing the Australian’s championship reign to a brutal end.

But despite taking his belt, Topuria says Volkanovski is still the greatest featherweight of all time.

“For me, he’s the best featherweight that has ever existed, the most dominant,” Topuria said.

“I was the champion, and I’ve done things that nobody else has done, but I left the division.

“He’s done much more at that weight than I have. It’s been many years.”

The huge endorsement comes as Volk considers another move to lightweight following his second-round stoppage of previously unbeaten challenger Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.

Having reclaimed the featherweight championship after Topuria’s departure, the 38-year-old has continued to build a legacy his former rival now believes stands above everyone else in the division.

And while a Topuria rematch appears unlikely, UFC boss Dana White has left the door open for Volk to chase a second belt against lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.

Speaking on The Jim Rome Show, White made clear how much goodwill the Aussie has earned.

“I would pretty much do anything for Alexander Volkanovski at this point in his career,” White said.

But whether that opportunity becomes available depends on Gaethje, with White explaining the UFC was still discussing the American’s future with him.

Gaethje has yet to confirm his next move after defeating Topuria to claim the lightweight belt in June.

Volk, meanwhile, has floated the possibility of a superfight that could bring down the curtain on his own decorated career, indicating he would be prepared to vacate rather than hold up the divisions.

White had also backed Volkanovski’s right to pursue the matchup following his latest title defence.

“I think when you’ve accomplished what he’s accomplished, there’s not much we’re going to say no to with him,” White said.

For now, the Gaethje superfight remains a possibility rather than a booking.

But former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has no doubts about who would win.

“I want to see him fight Gaethje,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast.

“He beats him, man – 100 percent, he does.”

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Whittaker also backed the prospect of both champions walking away afterwards, believing a showdown would give them the chance to cement their legacies with one final blockbuster.

And despite Volkanovski’s extraordinary achievements, Whittaker believes opponents still underestimate the challenge until the cage door closes.

“I think everyone in that division doesn’t realize how good Volk is until he’s standing across from them,” he said.

“That’s the truth of it.

“We’ve seen a lot of good guys riding a lot of momentum going into those fights – people like Max Holloway standing opposite him and not realizing how good Volk is.

“Let’s be honest: The world didn’t realize how good he is until he keeps repeatedly doing the same thing over and over and over, and working people.”