Alexander Volkanovski refused to snub Conor McGregor when naming the four best featherweights in UFC history.
The New Zealander is fast becoming one of the most dominant featherweights in UFC history having a record of 12 victories with no defeats since signing with the promotion. Volkanovski picked up his title back in 2019 and has not looked back, defeating the likes of Max Holloway three times as well as the legendary Jose Aldo.
Volkanovski is also ranked as the UFC's pound-for-pound No.1, and is looking to also make a switch to 155lb in a bid to become the latest double-champion. McGregor was the first to make that move, and Volkanovski believes he would cause a huge stir if he left him out of his all-time featherweight rankings.
"You're going to have to say, Conor McGregor," Volkanovski told The AllStar when asked if McGregor joined his best-ever featherweight list. "I mean, the four champions, how else could you say it? At the end of the day, that's just real talk. I could sit there and stir the pot and not mention him.
"But, like you know, probably piss him off. He was the one who dethroned [Jose] Aldo. He has beaten Max [Holloway]. Obviously, that was very early into Max's career, that's why it's probably not talked about as much, but it would have been good for him to stay in the division."
Volkanovski had already named himself alongside former champions and rivals Aldo and Holloway whom he has defeated since making his dominant march to the title. McGregor also has left a huge legacy in the featherweight division by making a remarkable rise beating the likes of Holloway on his way to challenging for the title.
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And his title shot did not fail to disappoint, dethroning UFC great Jose Aldo with an explosive knockout which was the fastest in UFC title history at 13 seconds. However he immediately elected to challenge then lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, knocking him out in the second round.
It is unlikely McGregor will ever return to his lowest weight with his eyes firmly set on fights at 170lb after putting on weight when recovering from his broken leg. The Irishman has laid out the blueprints to making history by breaking several records on his journey and Volkanovski plans to take a similar route.
He is also willing to accept a fight against McGregor if the opportunity arises but believes it would have to be at 155lb. "I mean like obviously it would be 155[lbs]," Volkanovski told Submission Radio. "I guess I would just say these things because at the end of the day I would fight at 170 if that was like the deal breaker like, [McGregor saying] 'No, I'm not fighting unless it's at welterweight'... Let's remember he is the only other featherweight champion that I haven't beat."
