Volkanovski Pitches Gaethje "Super Fight" Retirement Send-Off for the Lightweight Crown

Alexander Volkanovski is thinking big beyond his next title defense. The 38-year-old featherweight champion, who meets unbeaten 20-0 contender Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24, says a win should set up a dream retirement fight with lightweight king Justin Gaethje, with the 155-pound crown on the line.

Volkanovski made the pitch on a podcast appearance, floating the idea of a champion-versus-champion send-off that would let both veterans walk away together. The Australian has twice fallen short at lightweight before, losing championship challenges to Islam Makhachev in 2023 and 2024, and sees one final crack at the 155-pound belt as the perfect exit.

The timing could suit both sides. Gaethje became the lightweight champion by stopping Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June, and he has been openly talking about retirement for months, musing about what remains worth fighting for after reaching the top of the sport. A matchup of the two divisions' champions would hand him a legacy-defining final dance.

For now, the focus remains on Abu Dhabi. UFC 333 is headlined by Volkanovski versus Evloev, with Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili completing their bantamweight trilogy in the co-main event on a stacked 14-bout card. White has also confirmed the event will go ahead in Abu Dhabi as planned, with no contingency arrangements being made.