Slug: volkanovski-gaethje-double-retirement-superfight
Category: Sports
Focus keyphrase: Volkanovski vs Gaethje
SEO title: Volkanovski vs Gaethje Superfight: Double Retirement Plan
Meta description: Volkanovski wants a double-retirement superfight with Gaethje for the UFC lightweight title. He faces Evloev at UFC 333 first.
Tags: UFC, Volkanovski, Gaethje, UFC 333, MMA, featherweight, lightweight title, Abu Dhabi
Original element: explainer context — Volkanovski’s two-division history (two Makhachev defeats), Gaethje’s path to undisputed gold, and the Evloev hurdle that must be cleared first; plus what happens next for both divisions.
Volkanovski Pitches Double-Retirement Superfight Against Gaethje
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has repeated his call for a champion-versus-champion superfight with lightweight king Justin Gaethje, suggesting the bout could serve as the final fight for both men.
Speaking during UFC 333 fight week in Abu Dhabi, the 38-year-old Australian said he was serious about the proposed Volkanovski vs Gaethje clash and had now put it directly to the people who make the matches. Volkanovski defends his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev on Saturday night, but his thoughts are already on a second divisional crown. The idea first surfaced on the “Who Da Fook Are These Guys?” podcast, where he said: “Imagine that, do it as a send-off. Gaethje and Volk. Let’s do a super fight with the lightweight title on the line.”
The double-retirement proposal behind Volkanovski vs Gaethje
Volkanovski’s pitch is unusual. He wants the UFC lightweight title on the line, and then both champions walk away from the sport together. Neither division would be held up, he argues, because the belts would be vacated and the contenders could sort out the new order.
“I mean look, I’m not the one to just call for title fights,” Volkanovski said. “There are so many guys that are deserving in that lightweight division, but I just look at it from a sense of, if I can fit into this equation, it could be the fact that we know Justin is unsure of what he wants to do.”
Gaethje, 37, has spoken openly about retirement and says he has no interest in rematches. Volkanovski believes that uncertainty makes the timing right.
“Maybe we agree that it’s like, let’s have our last fight, super fight, champion vs champion, we’re not holding the division’s because we’re gonna see ourselves off and let the divisions do their thing, I just think that could happen, that’s why I threw it out there,” he said.
Volkanovski believes the romance of a double send-off could win over Dana White and the matchmakers. “If it doesn’t happen, I’m still here,” he said of his featherweight reign.
For Volkanovski, the superfight is about unfinished business. He is widely regarded as the greatest featherweight in UFC history, with two title reigns and six successful defences against names like Max Holloway, Jose Aldo and Diego Lopes. His record stands at 28 wins and 4 defeats.
What his resume lacks is lightweight gold. He challenged Islam Makhachev twice in 2023 and lost both bouts. A win over Gaethje would make him a two-division champion at 38.
Gaethje held two interim belts before claiming the undisputed lightweight title in June, becoming the division’s oldest undisputed champion at 37. His 27-5 record is built on relentless pressure, heavy calf kicks and one-punch finishing power.
Evloev stands in the way first
Before any of this can happen, Volkanovski must get past Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24 at the Etihad Arena. The unbeaten Russian is 20-0 and represents the hardest test of Volkanovski’s second reign.
Volkanovski won the vacant featherweight belt with a unanimous decision over Diego Lopes at UFC 314 in April 2025, then beat Lopes again at UFC 325. A loss on Saturday would end the superfight talk instantly.
If he wins, contenders Jean Silva and Aljamain Sterling are already waiting, and Volkanovski says he will keep defending at 145 pounds if the Gaethje fight never materialises.
The UFC has not announced any negotiations for the proposed bout. As NDTV noted, the plan would stall two divisions at once, which is exactly the kind of logistical headache the promotion usually avoids. But Volkanovski believes the romance of a double send-off could win over Dana White and the matchmakers.
“If it doesn’t happen, I’m still here,” he said of his featherweight reign. For now, though, the champion’s eyes are on a bigger prize.
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Sources: Geo Super, NDTV Sports
What is the Volkanovski vs Gaethje superfight proposal?
Volkanovski wants to fight Gaethje for the UFC lightweight title, with both champions retiring immediately afterwards and vacating their belts so neither division is held up.
When does Volkanovski fight next?
He defends his featherweight title against unbeaten Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 on October 24 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Has the UFC agreed to the superfight?
No. The promotion has not announced negotiations. Volkanovski must first beat Evloev, and the plan would need sign-off from the UFC’s matchmakers.
