"What Does Justin Gaethje Wanna Do?": UFC President Dana White On The Big Question Behind An Alexander Volkanovski Superfight

Dana White Questions Gaethje’s Interest In Volkanovski Superfight© Instagram

Dana White is not in the habit of making blank promises to fighters, but Alexander Volkanovski has earned a different kind of treatment. Speaking on The Jim Rome Show, White said he would “pretty much do anything” for Volkanovski at this point in his career. The UFC president is clearly open to making a superfight happen between Volkanovski and lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. The only problem is that nobody knows what Gaethje wants to do yet, including Gaethje. For a fight this big, that uncertainty is the only thing standing in the way.

What Dana White Actually Said

White was direct. “The big question is, what does Justin Gaethje wanna do?” That is essentially the whole story right now. He does not know what Gaethje wants yet, the UFC is talking to him, and at some point Gaethje will have to pull the trigger one way or the other. A promotion ready to build around this matchup, waiting on the man holding the 155-pound title. Gaethje won the lightweight championship in June by defeating Ilia Topuria at the White House event and has been recovering from injuries since. His options are to defend against top contender Arman Tsarukyan, chase the cross-divisional superfight, or walk away entirely. None of those paths are closed yet, which is exactly what makes this moment unusual. Most fighters at this level are chasing the next fight. Gaethje is in a position where the UFC is chasing him.

Why Volkanovski Wants This Fight

Volkanovski has not been quiet. The Australian featherweight champion has floated a double retirement fight, a sendoff for two of the sport's best against each other. He has the resume to demand it. Multiple featherweight title defenses, a close loss to Islam Makhachev stepping up to lightweight, a recent win at UFC 333. White's position is simple: a fighter at Volkanovski's level earns the right to make unusual requests. A cross-division superfight against a champion who might retire anyway fits. Both men are on the back nine of their careers, and both know it. A fight between them would not need much selling. The fight makes sense. It just needs Gaethje to decide.