Apparently former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar thinks he is getting the next shot at the UFC Featherweight Title, but Volkanovski believes that a win at UFC 237 will prevent that from happening.
“(Edgar is) dreaming if he thinks I’d take out Aldo in his hometown and then he gets a shot in front of me,” Volkanovski told MMA Junkie. “Surely that just does not make sense. I feel bad for him, because I know he deserves it, especially with the whole (Brian) Ortega thing that happened. But this sport can be so unforgiving, man. But do we have sympathy out there just to let him have a title shot? I don’t think so. It’s unfortunate. I feel sorry, but mate, I’m the guy.”
Edgar has already had multiple shots at the UFC Featherweight Title, losing at UFC 156 and UFC 200.
UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier will battle for the vacant UFC Interim Lightweight Title at UFC 236, but Volkanovski would like an interim title created if Holloway were victorious at the event.
“We know how this game works now. How many interim titles are there? I’m not throwing shade on the guys organizing that, but it’s happening a lot, and I’m expecting it to happen to me,” Volkanovski said. “If Holloway wins, and he wants to fight Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and wait around, give me the interim. You’re throwing them around – give me one. But I’m not going to wait around. I’m almost certain I get the next shot after this fight. I beat Aldo in his hometown, nobody’s got a better claim.”
UFC 237 takes place on Saturday, May 11 from the Arena Da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil with Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
