Volkanovski says he's considered fight vs. Cejudo
UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski would be open to the possibility of a superfight against Henry Cejudo.
Volkanovski told theScore's James Lynch on Wednesday that he thought the bout was a potential option before his rematch with Max Holloway was finalized for UFC 251.
"His name was getting mentioned everywhere, but it was never run through me. ... But I started maybe considering that fight if it was offered to me because of the fact that he's no longer in the bantamweight division, flyweight division," Volkanovski said.
"Now I'm not holding up any divisions - I hate that, I hate people holding up divisions. So if he was to move up to try and go for the third title, holding up two divisions, I would've been like, 'Nah, you're dreaming, I think that's shit.'
"Our division was in a state where it was either Max or there wasn't really anyone else, so I was thinking maybe you could squeeze (the Cejudo fight) in. You never know, you know what I mean? So that was maybe an option."
Cejudo, a former champion at 125 and 135 pounds, retired from mixed martial arts after his successful bantamweight title defense against Dominick Cruz at UFC 249 in May. But "Triple C" said earlier in June that he'd be willing to come back for a 145-pound title bout against Volkanovski.
Volkanovski, however, is now scheduled to meet ex-champ Holloway - whom the Australian beat in December to capture the belt - on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on July 11.
With Chan Sung Jung and Brian Ortega expected to meet in a No. 1 contender bout, and other rising fighters like Zabit Magomedsharipov and Yair Rodriguez waiting in the wings, Volkanovski believes there will be no shortage of challenges for him in the foreseeable future.
"The featherweight division is starting to spice up, so it's gonna get a lot of attention," Volkanovski said. "I guarantee you after all these fights there are gonna be so many No. 1 contenders. Everyone's gonna be throwing around all these names."
If a clash against Cejudo does come to fruition, Volkanovski is confident he'd "bully" the native of Arizona.
"I'd obviously be too much everywhere," Volkanovski said. "I'm too much for the bigger guys. He's got a lot of skill, I'm not mocking the guy. I've got a lot of respect for him, he's done some big things. ... I'm just way too well-rounded.
"Obviously, his wrestling isn't gonna be a factor against me. I'm just too smart, as well. I'm smart, I'm fast, and I hit hard. I've got all the tools to make it hard for anyone, especially someone that's a division lower than me."