Ilia Topuria cautions Alexander Volkanovski against UFC 308 backup role: 'He needs some rest'

Ilia Topuria doesn’t think it’s a good idea for Alexander Volkanovski to offer his services as the backup fighter for the UFC 308 main event.

After Topuria (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) claimed the featherweight title with a second-round knockout at UFC 298 in February, Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC) has made it clear he’s coming to get the belt back in any way he can. He’s taken some time off from competition after being stopped by Topuria and Islam Makhachev just four months prior.

In the meantime, the promotion set up a championship bout between Topuria and Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC) for the Oct. 26 headliner at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Volkanovski is struggling to resist the urge to get back in the octagon and recently revealed he will travel to witness the matchup in person, and would be willing to be the official backup.

“I reckon I’ll be there, you know what I mean?” Volkanovski said during a fan Q&A earlier this month in Australia. “I’m usually hanging around and pestering my managers and the matchmakers. I’m always hanging around. You can’t get rid of me. I’ll be there.”

Topuria said it would ultimately be the UFC’s call as to whether Volkanovski is given the backup designation. But in his opinion, it would be smarter to stick to the plan of taking a break. Topuria thinks Volkanovski truly does need that recovery time.

“Listen, I don’t know (if that’s a good idea),” Topuria said. “He wants to get knocked out every year. Twice, maybe someone has to give him good advice. He needs some rest. I’m telling you, he needs some rest. His head at least.”

If Topuria emerged victorious from UFC 308, a rematch with Volkanovski is seemingly the most logical move for the division. That’s what Volkanovski said he is expecting. However, he doesn’t think Topuria is the man he’ll be running things back with.

Volkanovski is predicting Holloway to take the strap at UFC 308, and that would set up an ultra-rare situation where Volkanovski is 3-0 in head-to-head matchups with “Blessed,” but would enter the fourth meeting as the challenger.

“Max has obviously proven himself time and time again. I think he’s going to be a hard man to beat,” Volkanovski said. “We want the winner of that fight. If I had to pick it, probably is (Holloway), so I think we might have to go a damn fourth time. So we’ll see how that goes. BMF is going to be on the line this time, too, so that’s going to keep things interesting.”

Topuria is unsurprisingly dismissive of Volkanovski’s analysis and has boldly predicted the belt will be staying with him after he becomes the first to knock out Holloway.

If, for any reason, the Hawaiian can’t make it to fight night, though, and Volkanovski is tabbed as the backup or replacement, then Topuria said he won’t hesitate to accept the switch.

“My business and my job is to fight, no matter who is in front of me,” Topuria said. “I’m the world champion. I had my preferences before that I wanted to fight people who was next to me in the rankings, to get my chance to fight for the title as soon as possible. But now, when I’m the world champion, I don’t care. Give me a name. Give me a place. I’m going to give you a masterpiece of mixed martial arts.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.