Alexander Volkanovski Would Vacate His Featherweight Belt to Fight Arman Tsarukyan for Lightweight Gold

Alexander Volkanovski has put a second lightweight plan on the table — and this one, he says, excites him even more than the fight he has been chasing.

The UFC featherweight champion, fresh off retaining his belt against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24, told The Ariel Helwani Show that he would give up his 145-pound title to fight Arman Tsarukyan for the lightweight belt if that title becomes vacant.

"I'll vacate the featherweight belt and fight Arman (Tsarukyan) for the title. There it is," Volkanovski said. "I'm starting to get more excited for that than the Gaethje fight."

The condition matters, and Volkanovski did not hide it. The lightweight title is not vacant. Justin Gaethje holds it, having won it at UFC Freedom 250 in June, and Gaethje has not announced a retirement. Volkanovski's offer only kicks in if Gaethje walks away or will not defend — and Gaethje has expressed uncertainty about his future since winning the belt.

"If I was champion at lightweight, I'm fighting Arman. 100 percent. If Gaethje doesn't wanna do that, I'll do it. Me versus Arman for the belt. That excites me," Volkanovski said.

That is a sharp change of emphasis from the Australian's original pitch: a lightweight superfight with Gaethje himself, pitched as a retirement fight for both men. Volkanovski has challenged for the lightweight title twice before, losing both times to Islam Makhachev. A third attempt, against a different opponent, would still be a chase for a second UFC belt — just by a different route, and one that does not take a title shot away from the contender who has earned it. Volkanovski has acknowledged that Tsarukyan deserves the next lightweight title shot, and Tsarukyan strengthened his case by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331 in September.

Volkanovski is not pretending the matchup would be easy. He praised Tsarukyan's grappling and then backed his own answer to it.

"Everyone knows how I do against wrestlers," Volkanovski said. "Everyone knows I can handle wrestlers. I think he's one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the UFC, but you ain't holding me down."

"I've got so much respect for him, but I'm getting back up, and we're standing and fighting. He's got good stand-up too, so that'll be a fun fight."

Tsarukyan, for his part, has already welcomed the idea. Speaking to Helen Yee Sports before UFC 333, the Armenian said he believes Gaethje is avoiding him — his word, not a finding of fact — and that the UFC will tell him what is next by the end of November.

"Someone is trying to duck me; it's Justin Gaethje," Tsarukyan said. "Now he's talking about retirement. Either UFC is going to pay him so much money that he's going to fight, or he's just going to retire. They told me they're going to let me know at the end of November."

Gaethje, separately, has previously said he will speak with his family in December about whether to keep fighting or retire. The two timelines are not the same thing: Tsarukyan expects word from the UFC by the end of November; Gaethje's own family conversation is set for December. Nothing in either account amounts to a retirement announcement.

Asked about Volkanovski, Tsarukyan did not hold back — and his assessment should be read as his opinion, not as a verdict on the champion.

"Yeah, I would fight him," Tsarukyan said. "I think it's a good fight for me stylistically. He's old, bad chin. He's a tough opponent, but he's a little bit old now and with me, it's a perfect fight."

Volkanovski has also floated a wider shape for the division, reportedly suggesting a Paddy Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria fight running alongside his own bout with Tsarukyan, with the winners meeting. That is a suggestion, not a booking, and MMA Junkie reported it directly from the Helwani interview.

For now, nothing is booked. No date, no venue, no vacancy, no retirement. What exists is a rare alignment: the featherweight champion willing to walk away from his belt, and the lightweight contender willing to meet him for the vacant one — if, and only if, the man currently holding it steps aside.