UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski plans to move up to lightweight to try and capture another title and become the second man to hold both belts at the same time after Irish legend Conor McGregor.
Volkanovski is scheduled to make the third defence his 145lb crown against Max Holloway in a trilogy fight at UFC 276 next weekend. 'The Great' defended his belt earlier this year against The Korean Zombie in a one-sided, fourth-round stoppage win.
The 5'6" Australian started his MMA career as a middleweight and is seemingly interested in moving back up a weight class. Volkanovski wants to end his rivalry with Holloway then entertain a move to 155lb.
"That's why I talk about this first fight with Max being a big one. After this one if I go and do my thing, it gives me that time to go and least have a chance to go for that double-champ status. That's what I want, so I'm going to do what I plan on doing and then that's what I'm going to call for," Volkanovski said at a UFC press conference in Sydney.
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"I'm planning on moving up, [Charles Oliveira] is dangerous and I think it'll be a massive fight. I definitely believe I can get that double-champ status and I'll be successful, but let's worry about Max first. Once it's done, Australia maybe we do it here."
McGregor moved up to lightweight after dethroning Jose Aldo in just 13-seconds to win the undisputed 145lb title. He became the first UFC fighter to hold belts in two weight classes simultaneously after winning Eddie Alvarez's lightweight title at UFC 205.
The UFC lightweight title is currently vacant after Charles Oliveira was stripped of the belt for missing weight before his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Dana White has confirmed Oliveira will fight for the title next, but his opponent is yet to be announced.
Volkanovski fancies his chances against Oliveira given the Brazilian has been hurt in several of his past fights. The Australian promised that Oliveira wouldn't get the chance to land a big punch on him despite his rival drastically improving his striking skills in recent years.
"When I look at Oliveira [I see] a dangerous fighter. A lot of people lot watching him fight because he's in exciting fights, but obviously he's shown that he can be beat. In his last few fights they were exciting, he was almost beat every time," Volkanovski added.
"The thing is with me, I am not going to give him the opportunities. if I land big on someone they aren't going to get the opportunity to land big on me, that's not how we roll. I'm going to land big and not get hit, that's the whole point."
