Volkanovski faces unexpected hurdle for next fight

Macedonian-born Australian Alexander Volkanovski has revealed that negotiations for his adjacent rubric defence are going slower than helium expected. Although it seemed that Volkanovski and the undefeated Englishman Lerone Murphy would participate a large combat for the featherweight loop successful aboriginal 2026, the concern has not yet been yet resolved. We punctual you, the inscriptions from the extremity of the summertime suggested precisely that.

The 27-year-old champion, aft winning the rubric for the 2nd clip astatine the UFC 314 event, patiently waited for the unfolding of events successful his division. Movsar Evloev inactive remains successful a benignant of limbo, Jean Silva was severely defeated by Diego Lopes, whom Volkanovski defeated successful April for the vacant belt, and erstwhile Bellator combatant Aaron Pico had a hard debut against Murphy. All this led to a logical lucifer against the English, which Volkanovski himself had hinted astatine successful December.

But present a acold ablution is coming.

"It's tough, I thought it would beryllium next, but it seems similar there's been a setback," Alexander told Submission Radio.

The seasoned combatant added that his instrumentality could lone travel successful February, and successful beforehand of a location crowd. "February successful Sydney, helium wondered."

Murphy reacts

On the different hand, Lerone Murphy didn't hold agelong and reacted via societal media. He stressed that helium inactive sees himself arsenic the adjacent challenger, careless of the date.

"He didn't accidental 'no' to me. I deliberation helium was referring to the date. I'll beryllium acceptable whenever. Let's hold and see," Murphy said, earlier deleting the posts.

Murphy (18-0-1) is presently connected a nine-fight winning streak successful the UFC. His astir caller came successful August erstwhile helium brutally knocked retired Pico successful the archetypal round. Before that, the undefeated Englishman had defeated veterans specified arsenic Edson Barboza, Dan Ige and Josh Emmett by unanimous decision.

Volkanovski (27-4) is presently enjoying his 2nd word arsenic champion. After 5 palmy defenses, helium mislaid the rubric to Ilija Topuria, but erstwhile the Spaniard moved to the lightweight division, the large Australian regained it by defeating Lopes successful 5 rounds. The awesome combatant inactive remains the main plus successful his part and is acceptable for caller challenges, nevertheless agelong they whitethorn take.