Will Volk Be Able To 'Flip The Switch' At UFC 314?
03/14/2025 07:00 PM
Alexander Volkanovski has been open about feeling some level of uncertainty during his current losing skid, but the former UFC featherweight champion is confident that he'll be able to "flip the switch" upon his Octagon return.
The 36-year-old veteran is currently scheduled to meet surging featherweight contender Diego Lopes at UFC 314 next month in Miami, Fla., as the two duke it out for the vacant 145-pound title left behind by former champion Ilia Topuria. It will be the first time that Volkanovski is competing since suffering a brutal knockout loss to Topuria at UFC 298 just over one year ago.
Before that, Volkanovski dropped a knockout loss in his rematch with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 back in Oct. 2023. Losing back-to-back fights by vicious knockout has put Volkanovski in a tough spot on the backend of his legendary UFC career, but the former champion is ready to prove all the doubters wrong and put his own past doubts to rest.
"You are going to ask yourself like, 'All right, this is unfamiliar territory, an unfamiliar feeling. Have you lost it? What's going on? You must not want it anymore,'" Volkanovski recently told ESPN (h/t MMA Junkie). "I was like, 'No, not really. I remember that I have accepted that I'm having the break, but have you accepted that you're done? 'No, I haven't. I'll be back. I'll flip the switch, but will you flip the switch?' You know, you ask yourself these questions, but I always answer, 'Relax, when the time comes, you will flip the switch. Don't worry.' But I guess you won't know until you decide to do that."
Volkanovski, who has been one of the best fighters in the world over the past five years, admits that he doesn't have much left in the tank at this stage of his career. He's hoping for a memorable return to form at UFC 314 to win back the undisputed featherweight strap and then rack off a few title defenses before he calls it quits.
"There were questions: Am I going to be able to flip the switch? Am I going to be the same guy once I flip that switch?" Volkanovski said. "We found out early because we started camp nice and early that we would. We're kicking ass in the gym right now. The weight is ahead of schedule, and we've still got plenty of time."
"I'm going to get the belt back, I'm going to defend, and that's just going to add to my legacy and add to the story," he concluded.
What do you think, Maniacs? Will Volkanovski return to form at UFC 314 or are his best days officially behind him?
Let's discuss!
