Alex Volkanovski has continued his slanging match with Conor McGregor after securing a massive showdown against new lightweight champ Islam Makhachev next February at UFC 284.
Volkanovski was booked as the back-up fighter for Makhachev’s lightweight title clash with Charles Oliveira, in case there were any mishaps, all but securing his chance at becoming double champ.
After Makhachev’s victory in Abu Dhabi, UFC boss Dana White confirmed Volkanovski would take on the Dagestani fighter in Perth in 2023.
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That sparked an attack by McGregor, questioning the entertainment value of the match-up.
McGregor posted a photo of the duo and said the main card fight would attract little attention.
“My two old belts. On two little ticks. This fight does 10 buys,” he tweeted.
Volkanovski was quick to hit back at the Irish former champion, referencing one of McGregor’s former quotes.
“A former wise man once said,” he captioned a reply to a previous McGregor tweet, which said “Winners focus on winning. Losers focus on winners”.
Surprisingly, McGregor took the barbs in a different direction, saying he was “happy” for Volkanovski, adding that he would be “back” and that “this is not over”.
Volkanovski said he would “welcome” McGregor back into the fold, before McGregor added: “I was in your exact spot one time don’t forget. 145 coming up. Good luck.
“I’d say go heavier. Rugby days. Be a bowling ball. That’s how I’d do it as you. Your condition right now as I see it, I don’t know. But bowling ball style for you for best chance.”
Earlier in the year, Volkanovski spoke of McGregor’s legacy but was quick to contend that he has done more than the Irishman.
“You need UFC news | Conor McGregor belittles Alex Volkanovski after double champ shot defences, that’s the thing,” Volkanovski said in April.
“I’m going to give him respect. The dude can fight. He made some bad decisions and all that type of stuff but he can fight. To take out Aldo in Aldo’s prime, that’s saying something as well. Aldo is still showing he’s still in his prime, he doesn’t age.
“But again, I feel like I’ve definitely done a lot more than him so out of all the champions, I’d say he would have to be at the bottom of the list. He ain’t gonna like that but whatever.”
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