Undisputed featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski has confirmed he rejected the opportunity to fight lightweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev in a rematch of their UFC 284 title showdown back in February – in a bid to remain active himself.
Volkanovski, a featherweight champion under the promotion’s banner, is slated to headline UFC 290 during International Fight Week in July – taking on interim division champion, Yair Rodrîguez in a title unification fight.
However, featuring once already earlier this year, the Australian headlined UFC 284 in Perth on home soil, suffering his first promotional loss in the form of a unanimous decision defeat against undisputed lightweight kingpin, Makhachev.