He knows it, the fans know it, the UFC even lists him as such in its official featherweight rankings.

So why champion Max Holloway is fighting anyone else in his next title defence is a valid question to ask.

Why the announcement that Holloway will instead meet former lightweight champion - and number four ranked featherweight - Frankie Edgar in July came just 24 hours after Volkanovski's defeat of Brazilian legend Jose Aldo is another.

It's also thrown a question mark over a potential double-feature in Australia later this year with the much-hyped bout between middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and interim champion Israel Adesanya.

For the former Warilla-Lake South Gorilla, they were questions he was asking from a Chilean hospital bed as he battled a cellulitis infection, making the bitter pill even tougher to swallow.

"It was pretty annoying, just the timing of the announcement," Volkanovski said.

"I knew that decision must've been made before I even fought [Aldo]. The reason they announced it the next day... I just thought 'what's the point of that?' but it is what it is.

"At the end of the day it doesn't change my plans. They're not going to write it into my contract because anything happen but the UFC's made it pretty clear I'm still number one contender and I'm still next in line.

"We still want that fight in Australia at the end of the year. We'll have to wait and see what happens in this fight but I'm going to be very vocal about it and let everyone know that I'm number one and I'm coming for whoever wins that title."

It will be the third time the promotion has tried to make the fight between Holloway and Edgar, with the two previous bouts cancelled due to injuries to both men.

It will be a return to featherweight for Holloway, who will be coming off a loss to Dustin Poirier in his last fight for the interim lightweight belt.

It also shapes as 37-year-old Edgar's final shot at UFC gold and Volkanovski has enough respect for the veteran not begrudge him that chance.

"If anyone was going to sneak in front of me I'm glad it was Frankie," Volkanovski said.

"If anyone deserves it it's him. He's a nice bloke, a respectful bloke, he's done a lot for the sport. He's already said he's happy to turn around and fight me at the end of the year.

"I'm sure Max could do that to. It still gives them plenty of time and we can still do this in Australia at the end of the year. If Max wins it just brings his level up again and makes for a bigger fight for me."

Holloway will enter the bout a heavy favourite and Volkanovski said a potential showdown with the Hawaiian would catapult him into rare company.

"We can start working on our legacy," he said.

"I'm planning on being champion by the end of the year but, if I take out Chad Mendes, Aldo and then Max Holloway, I'd go from being a prospect last year to being one of the best featherweights of all time.

"That's how quickly things can change. It's a crazy game we're in but I wouldn't change anything. This is just going to add to my story and make my win even bigger once I get that belt."