Alexander Volkanovski admits that his time fighting within the lightweight division is over after defeat against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the first round.
Volkanovski fell to a first round knockout defeat in a rematch for the lightweight championship belt against Makhachev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
This is the second time that Volkanovski has fallen to defeat against Makhachev after a tight five round fight in February when Volkanovski challenged the lightweight champion by coming up from the featherweight division. It ultimately ended with Makhachev winning by decision against his counterpart.
Volkanovski has admitted that this is his last fight in the lightweight division after he said his job “is done”, and instead he will go back to defending his featherweight title for the time being.
However despite losing social media has given Volkanovski support after he took on the fight with only 11 days’ notice after Charles Olivera pulled out of the fight due to injury.
Makhachev also acknowledged the effort made by the Australian after the fight by saying “I want to say a real thank you to this guy, he’s a real champion,
He is a real champion, thank you.”
Islam said after the fight he is ready for the next one, but insists that he is not going to choose who takes him on for the belt and reminds UFC President Dana White that he must find one for him.
He said: “I never choose, Dana you have some job, give me someone.”
