Alexander Volkanovski is open to challenging Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title, but he is not calling for the fight. The UFC featherweight champion told his YouTube channel that while he would accept the opportunity, he believes Arman Tsarukyan should be next in line.

“Of course, I'll do it,” Volkanovski said, per Sherdog. “I'm going to call it when I feel like I deserve it, and you've seen when I was defending my belt five times before I asked for the double champ, and then had the fight with Islam. Like that's just how it is… So, I'm not going to call for it. That's the type of champion I am. I think you need to earn it. But if the UFC was to offer it, of course, see two 38-year-old fellas go at it in the lightweight division? 100%. Of course I would.”

Gaethje (28-5) won the lightweight title earlier this month at UFC White House, defeating Ilia Topuria in a major upset. Volkanovski (28-4) recently reclaimed the featherweight belt and has defended it once since returning to the top of the division.

Volkanovski has twice attempted to become a two-division champion. In 2023, he moved up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev and gave the champion one of the toughest fights of his career before losing a close decision. He then accepted a short-notice rematch with Makhachev and was knocked out. After losing the featherweight title to Topuria, Volkanovski won the vacant belt against Diego Lopes and defended it in a rematch.

According to Combat Edge Elo ratings, Volkanovski currently holds an Elo of 1865, ranked No. 1 in the featherweight division. Gaethje sits at 1870 Elo, also ranked No. 1 at lightweight. A matchup between the two would feature two of the highest-rated fighters in the sport.

Volkanovski acknowledged that Tsarukyan should be the logical next challenger for the lightweight title. Tsarukyan was scheduled to challenge Makhachev last year but pulled out of the fight. He was also expected to serve as the backup fighter for the Gaethje-Topuria title bout at UFC White House but instead chose to compete in a wrestling match against Tony Ferguson.

“But, Arman should be next,” Volkanovski said. “But when you're not doing what the UFC wants and you're not, you know, being a company man, you can be punished for it. So we'll see what happens.”

Tsarukyan has not fought since his withdrawal from the Makhachev title fight. His decision to skip the backup role at UFC White House may have damaged his standing with the promotion, opening the door for Volkanovski to leapfrog him for a title shot.

Volkanovski made it clear he will not campaign for the fight. He pointed to his previous path to a double-champ opportunity, when he defended the featherweight title five times before calling for Makhachev. He said he expects to earn any future title shot the same way.

“I'm not going to call for it,” Volkanovski said. “That's the type of champion I am. I think you need to earn it.”

Combat Edge take

Volkanovski's stance is consistent with his career. He has never been a fighter who demands opportunities — he waits for them. But the lightweight division is in a unique moment. Gaethje is a 37-year-old champion who just pulled off the biggest win of his career. Volkanovski is also 37. A fight between them would be a battle of aging legends, and the UFC may see it as a marketable title fight that does not require Tsarukyan's involvement.

Tsarukyan's decision to prioritize a wrestling match over a backup role at UFC White House was a strategic error. The UFC values reliability, and Tsarukyan has now twice failed to show up when the promotion needed him. Volkanovski, by contrast, has never turned down a fight. He accepted a short-notice rematch with Makhachev and paid the price with a knockout loss. That willingness to fight anytime, anywhere, may be worth more to the UFC than Tsarukyan's theoretical claim to the next title shot.

If the UFC offers Volkanovski the lightweight title fight, he will take it. And based on his Elo rating and recent form, he would enter the cage as a live underdog — but not by much. Gaethje's Elo of 1870 is only five points higher than Volkanovski's 1865. That is a negligible gap. A fight between them would be a pick'em on paper, and the winner would likely be opened as a betting favorite by a narrow margin.

For now, Volkanovski is waiting. But if the call comes, he will answer. And the lightweight division may have its next title fight sooner than expected.