Alexander Volkanovski recently weighed in on Arnold Allen missing out on the interim featherweight title shot. The UFC recently announced an interim title matchup between Yair Rodriguez and Jost Emmett, scheduled for UFC 284 in February, omitting Allen from the mix.
Volkanovski believes Allen, Rodriguez and Emmett are all equally deserving of an interim title shot. According to 'The Great', at least one elite contender missing out on a title shot was inevitable considering how stacked up the division is. The 34-year-old said in an interview with Fox Sports:
"That's the thing, I was even saying like, if there's going to be interim or whoever was next for me or whatever it is, people are gonna be disappointed. Cause there's a few guys right at the top, especially as the interim, one person was gonna miss out. Cause I feel like all three of them were right up there and all deserve it. It's unfortunate that Arnold Allen there missed out but you know, that's the game."
Catch Alexander Volkanovski's comments below (2:25):
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Arnold Allen is coming off a second-round stoppage win over a compromised (knee injury) Calvin Kattar last month. Currently ranked No.5 on the featherweight ladder, 'Almighty' is undefeated in his ten UFC outings.
Alexander Volkanovski expects to get a 'clear' opponent after interim featherweight title fight
Alexander Volkanovski will make a bid for Islam Makhachev's lightweight strap on the UFC 284 card in Perth. Volkanovski recently made it clear that he doesn't mind the UFC setting up an interim title fight at featherweight.
In fact, 'The Great' hopes that the matchup clears the featherweight title picture so that a clear opponent emerges for his next title defense. Volkanovksi said during a UFC 284 presser in Perth:
“And then we’ll let them do their thing. Hopefully put on a show, give me a clear guy, and then you know someone will be holding that interim belt, and I’ll be happy to take them on as soon as possible, because I wanna be active, you know what I mean? And I don’t want people waiting around for me and things like that, even though I don’t think that they would need to, but I think this is good. I think this really sets up for my next fight in featherweight anyway, so I’m more than OK with it.”
Watch the UFC 284 presser below: