Conor McGregor’s one-time UFC pound-for-pound rival offers to step in and fight at UFC 303 | Irish Mirror

Alexander Volkanovski has thrown his hat into the ring to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303, should Michael Chandler be unable to compete.

McGregor, who hasn’t stepped into the octagon in nearly three years, is set to make his comeback on June 29 when he squares off against Chandler in Las Vegas. Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira has already offered himself as a stand-in for McGregor’s return, and now former featherweight champ Volkanovski has joined the list of potential substitutes.

“You find me an exciting fight, maybe in the lightweight division, or something like that, that’s fun. I don’t want to wait too long, I mean I’ve told myself I wouldn’t do it but to capitalise on a massive opportunity because I know featherweight is going to be there, against Conor McGregor I still probably would, you just put that scenario there, maybe I will,” Volkanovski shared with The AllStar.

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Volkanovski, once considered the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter, was ridiculed by McGregor last year. “Ask my b***** that little sausage Volkanovski is no way [pound-for-pound No.1]. Silly. That’s quick work for me. 100 per cent accuracy work. Readable. Hittable. Hurtable,” McGregor tweeted.

“I like he has this title, though. We should fight at some stage so the FW goats will have all faced off and let there be no debate.”

McGregor remains the only former UFC featherweight champion that Volkanovski hasn’t fought, with the Australian having previously defeated Jose Aldo and Max Holloway.

Volkanovski, who recently lost his featherweight title after being knocked out by Ilia Topuria in February, is open to the idea of moving up two weight classes to take on McGregor at UFC 303, should he step in for Chandler. Despite the size difference, the 35 year old fighter isn’t fazed.

“A lot of people are like, ‘Oh he’s too big’; I’ve been under-sized my whole life, it’s not like I just train with bantamweights and featherweights, half my training partners are much bigger. I’m used to the big boys and I need them to work with me and get me the proper workouts so that says enough,” Volkanovski has said.