UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski has slammed top-five contender Yair Rodríguez for calling for a name shot regardless of his state of being inactive and up-to-date defeat.

Volkanovski was once to start with set to percentage the Octagon with Max Holloway for the 3rd time. After dethroning “Blessed” in 2019 and in an instant protecting the name towards him seven months later, “The Nice” set the ranking at 2-0 in his contention towards the 145-pound GOAT contender.

After Holloway rebounded with mightily-impressive victories over Calvin Kattar and Rodríguez in 2021, he earned a possibility at redemption and a 3rd shot at including the primary blemish to Volkanovski’s document. Then again, simply days after the combat was once introduced for UFC 272, Holloway was once compelled to withdraw after anxious a prior damage.

Following the scoop, it didn’t take long for a number of opponents to throw their names into the hat to switch the Hawaiian. Amongst them have been former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo, Giga Chikadze, and Josh Emmett.

In spite of returning to the UFC after a long layoff closing November and falling to defeat Holloway, Rodríguez is often known as out the champ, and he did so in a specifically opposed method.

“Do I in point of fact wish to lift my hand @danawhite? Heal up fast champ @blessedmma @alexvolkanovski I had admired you sooner than, however now, fuck you! You little whinge you already know I’m subsequent”

Volkanovski: Yair Callout “Blows Me Away”

Volkanovski’s mindset and perspective as featherweight king have at all times been transparent to peer: whoever is the most efficient, the highest contender, and deserving of a name shot, gets a name shot. Judging by that standards, it’s comprehensible why the Australian was once stunned at Rodríguez ‘s callout, particularly the competitive nature of it.

All through an up-to-date look on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Volkanovski indexed the entire reason why the Mexican was once by no means going to get the shot, together with his 2020 USADA suspension, his failed matchups with Zabit Magomedsharipov, and his contemporary loss to Holloway.

“Something that surprises me and what annoys me is the best way he (Rodríguez) acted about it as though it was once a no-brainer that he will have to be the following in line,” mentioned Volkanovski. “After which begins wearing on and swearing and pronouncing, ‘I had admired and fuck you,’ and all that. Are you critical? Let’s consider, let me convey to you again, let’s be actual for a 2d. Over two years you have been just about operating from Zabit? I didn’t wanna convey that up however you set me right here. So, you’re operating from Zabit, pulling out, you’re getting suspended from USADA, you’re being a diva and the UFC had such a lot of trouble with you. It was once a host of chaos.

“The UFC ain’t gonna take that’s critical. After which, let’s consider, he simply misplaced. I don’t get it, I in point of fact don’t get it. You haven’t fought for the way lengthy, then you definitely coming off a loss, and then you definitely get offended at me as a result of I don’t take a seat there and contact you out.”

Rodríguez start with rejected combat with Zabit in 2018, which ended in his liberating, albeit short-lived three-week one. The pair have been then scheduled to conflict more than one occasion, with “El Pantera” pulling out because of accidents.

In a while after his UFC Vegas, 8 bouts with the Russian fell via, Rodríguez was once passed a six-month suspension for failing to inform USADA of his whereabouts and being unavailable for trying out. After in the end returning at UFC Vegas 42 a few months in the past, the Mexican fell at the flawed aspect of a unanimous choice verdict towards Holloway.

Given all the ones components, Volkanovski is baffled via Rodríguez ‘s callout. He inspired the #3-ranked contender to mention it to his face if his remarks have been in point of fact how he feels and now not simply an try to hype up the matchup.

“It simply blows me away. The best way that a few of these folks (act),” added Volkanovski. “I don’t thoughts the man. Whether or not he simply idea that was once his means of having the name shot, perhaps, I don’t know. But when he’s being actual… Mate, when you’re gonna lift on like that, say it to my face. Or was once it simply looking to get the shot and construct a little bit of hype, I don’t know. But when that’s in point of fact what you are feeling about it, convey that very same power particular person as neatly. I didn’t do anything else flawed. You’re the person who didn’t combat for over two years and who’s coming off a loss.”

With Rodríguez and a number of different names failing to protect a shot at Volkanovski’s name, the champion now seems set to shield his gold towards divisional veteran “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273 in April.

Do you believe Alexander Volkanovski? Was once Yair Rodríguez flawed for calling the champ out like he did?