Volkanovski targets a superfight with Gaethje and admits he may retire if he wins
Alexander Volkanovski, who beat Movsar Evloev on Saturday (24) in Abu Dhabi, wants a superfight with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Dana White gave the nod and raised the bout again at the UFC 333 press conference; the Australian admits he could retire win or lose.
Full text available in Portuguese only. Read the Portuguese version
O reinado de Alexander Volkanovski nos penas do UFC segue intacto: no sábado (24), em Abu Dhabi, ele dominou Movsar Evloev. O próximo passo, para o australiano, pode ser voar mais alto — encarar rivais de outras divisões.
Durante a semana, ele admitiu o desejo de uma superluta contra o americano Justin Gaethje, dono do cinturão dos leves, categoria imediatamente acima. Dana White deu o aval e voltou a mencionar o combate na coletiva pós-UFC 333, chegando a sugerir que os dois abram mão dos títulos para não travar as divisões.
“Quero ser um cara justo. Não quero ficar segurando a divisão, então a gente pode fazer de um jeito que a gente não as segure. De novo, pode ser que seja a luta de nossas aposentadorias e fazer uma superluta, que seria muito legal, dois caras de 38 anos se enfrentando, e depois ir embora e deixar o pessoal mais jovem aproveitar”, declarou.
O tema da aposentadoria apareceu justamente nesse cenário. Volkanovski e Gaethje já viram especulações sobre o fim da carreira, mas ambos seguem querendo lutar; para o campeão dos penas, encerrar diante de outro campeão daria sentido ao adeus.
“Seria algo que faria valer a pena se aposentar. Se eles me dessem esta oportunidade, eu me aposentaria. Vencendo ou perdendo, eu paro. O cinturão estará vago, então não tem o porquê de atrapalhar a divisão. Então, a gente pode seguir assim, eu venço e depois abro mão do título, eu deixaria outras pessoas lutarem. Acho que seria uma boa luta para me aposentar. Mas, agora, seguirei com uma luta de cada vez”, disse.
Read also
StandardLutasJacobe Smith says Kevin Holland is 'scared' after UFC Vegas 123 win
Jacobe Smith beat Randy Brown by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 123, with all three scorecards reading 30-26, and renewed his callout of Kevin Holland, saying the welterweight is scared of him. Smith, now 14-0, urged the matchmakers to get Holland to sign.
Redação
StandardLutasBrazil close the Americas Para-fencing Regional with 25 podiums and lead the table
Brazil closed the Americas Para-fencing Regional with 25 podiums — ten golds, eight silvers and seven bronzes — and finished top of the medal table in São Paulo. Three team golds came on Sunday, beating Colombia and the United States.
Redação
StandardLutasCovington defends Makhachev's withdrawal and jabs Morales: “he hasn't been tested”
Colby Covington defended Islam Makhachev, who withdrew from facing Carlos Prates at UFC 336 on 30 January and was replaced by Michael Morales, arguing the Russian deserves time after a recent title defence and during Ramadan, and that Morales has not been tested.
Redação
StandardLutasMcGregor announces retirement in his next fight and wants to break sales records
Conor McGregor said he intends to end his career in his next fight and treat the farewell as a spectacle, aiming to beat his own sales records; he returned at UFC 329 against Max Holloway after five years away and lost after suffering a knee injury.
Redação
StandardLutasThomas Bryan submits Alberto Pasos with a rear-naked choke at PFC 49
Acre's Thomas Bryan submitted Mexico's Alberto Pasos with a rear-naked choke at 1min28s of the second round at PFC 49 in Cancún; with the opponent unable to make weight, the teams agreed a 66.2 kg limit and the bantamweight belt was not on the line.
Redação
StandardLutasCarlos Prates' rival shows up 23 kg over the limit before UFC 336
UFC 336 on 30 January decides the interim welterweight title (up to 77 kg) between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, who appeared on social media at 100 kg, roughly 23 kg over the division limit, three months out from the fight.
Redação
StandardLutasJoão Vitor Silva takes gold in Tampere as Brazil add two silvers
João Vitor Silva won gold in the over-90 kg category in Tampere, Finland, with a first-round technical knockout of France's Angelo Parentaud, while Victoria Barbosa and Thauan Lima took silver after 5-0 unanimous decisions.
Redação
StandardLutasAljamain Sterling and Kevin Vallejos trade barbs before UFC Qatar
Aljamain Sterling and Kevin Vallejos traded social media jabs less than a month out from their featherweight meeting in Qatar, with the Argentinian daring the American to grapple and promising a knockout, and the reply landing in kind.
Redação