Alexander Volkanovski vs Justin Gaethje: Could UFC Superfight Be Next?

Alexander Volkanovski continues to dominate the UFC featherweight division and shows no signs of slowing down.

The Australian further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest 145-pound fighters in the organisation after stopping Movsar Evloev by second-round TKO in the main event at UFC 333.

While there is still interesting competition for 'The Great' to defend his championship against, an exciting superfight could be a better option.

A blockbuster matchup could be set up with current UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje, with Volkanovski revealing he would be willing to retire after the fight, regardless of the result.

During his first dominant reign as featherweight champion, Volkanovski earned the opportunity to face Islam Makhachev for the chance to become a simultaneous two-division champion.

Unfortunately, he couldn't quite prevail in a close contest at UFC 284, narrowly losing by unanimous decision. He then stepped up on short notice to face Makhachev again at UFC 294, only to lose by knockout.

The Australian could make his case for another shot at the lightweight title, having become an even bigger name in the UFC over the past two years and earning a similar level of respect to Gaethje.

Two highly experienced fighters and current champions going head-to-head in a huge blockbuster event is something MMA fans dream of.

Volkanovski's technical striking and movement against Gaethje's devastating power and leg kicks could make for an intriguing contest.

Speaking after UFC 333, Volkanovski suggested the matchup could be his final fight, stating: "That's something I would retire for."

So, is this a big possibility, or is something stopping this potential matchup from happening?

The danger of a champion vs champion bout is that it can hold up two weight divisions, reducing the activity of their respective title fights.

It seems unlikely that Ilia Topuria will get an immediate opportunity to regain the lightweight title following his defeat at UFC Freedom 250.

However, Arman Tsarukyan can make a strong case for the 155-pound title after his knockout win against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331, with the Armenian looking like the next challenger for the lightweight crown.

One featherweight fighter who wants to face Volkanovski for the 145-pound title is Kevin Vallejos, who has become a dangerous contender in the division.

The Argentinian could move closer to that opportunity if he is successful in his upcoming bout with Aljamain Sterling at UFC Qatar.

Another possible challenger is Jean Silva, who looks just as intimidating, but due to recently facing a short-notice opponent, it could take one more fight before the Brazilian gets a title shot.

Of course, the UFC President is always eager to produce the biggest and most anticipated battles in the organisation, whether the fights go ahead or not.

During the UFC 333 post-fight press conference, Dana White was asked about a potential contest with Gaethje following Volkanovski's victory in Abu Dhabi.

"I think when you have accomplished what he has accomplished, there's not much we're going to say no to with him [Alexander Volkanovski]."

"We'll see how this whole thing plays out," White added.

The temptation could grow for White to create another huge event with Gaethje vs Volkanovski as the headliner.

Volkanovski is keen to have another superfight for the lightweight title, but Gaethje has yet to publicly respond to the proposal, leaving the potential matchup in the hands of both fighters and the UFC.