Alexander Volkanovski: "That’s wild” - Alexander Volkanovski left confused by Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway remaining in featherweight rankings despite move to lightweight

Ilia Topuria will compete for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317 on June 28, where he will face Charles Oliveira in the main event. However, the Spaniard is currently still ranked at 145 pounds, occupying No.3 ranking. Furthermore, Topuria's previous opponent, Max Holloway, will face Dustin Poirier at lightweight in the main event of UFC 318 in July for the BMF title.

Holloway officially moved to 155 pounds following his KO loss to Topuria at UFC 308. But he has remained in the featherweight rankings, occupying No.1 ranking, while also being ranked No.4 at lightweight. His placement in the featherweight rankings has left the division's champion, and Holloway's former opponent Alexander Volkanovski, immensely confused.

'The Great' recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he discussed his potential upcoming opponents. Whilst doing so, the UFC featherweight rankings were shown on screen, leaving Volkanovski stumped as to the inclusions of Holloway and Topuria. He said:

"Yeah, I don't get it. What's with Max and Ilia still there when they're in lightweight? Yeah, I don't get it. Ilia at number three, that's wild."

Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more

Check out Alexander Volkanovski's comments on Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway below (18:25):

Alexander Volkanovski predicts Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria clash

After Ilia Topuria's KO win against Max Holloway at UFC 308, it was confirmed that the Spaniard would move to 155 pounds and vacate the featherweight belt.

Topuria's pursuit of a second UFC title has culminated in a thrilling matchup Charles Oliveira. Despite the Brazilian's size advantage, 'El Matador' enters the clash as a massive favorite, marked at -440 according to ufc.com.

Expand Tweet

During Alexander Volkanovski's aforementioned interview with Ariel Helwani, he broke down the UFC 317 main event clash. He predicted Topuria to have the edge over his opponent, saying:

"I've got Ilia. I think just stylistically and what we've seen, you know, Charles is very aggressive, very exciting fighter, that's why we all love to watch him. But if he comes aggressive like that, there's going to be opportunities for Ilia, and Ilia can bang... Charles could definitely catch him, but you can be hittable if you come aggressively like that, especially with someone like Ilia who's going to back himself... I think Ilia [wins]. I think it's a knockout." [3:05-4:26 in the aforementioned interview]

About the author

Liam is a MMA and Boxing writer at Sportskeeda. His journey into MMA journalism began with a high school diploma in 2017, but his passion for writing led him to diverse experiences, including internships in research and writing roles and accounting work.

Liam's fascination with MMA was sparked by Conor McGregor, with Dustin Poirier's bout against Dan Hooker in 2020 sealing his love for the sport. Poirier remains Liam's favorite fighter, whom he admires for his attitude, fighting style, and persona both inside and outside the cage. He is an advocate for the removal of the 12-6 elbow rule in MMA.

Liam strives to report precise and relevant information by cross-checking his work, reaching out to relevant sources for comments, and adhering to Sportskeeda's guidelines. His work has been recognized on popular MMA platforms, with his article headlines featuring in YouTube recaps and appearing onscreen during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

Outside of work, Liam enjoys playing cricket, practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cooking, music, and reading.

Know More

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

Edited by Tejas Rathi