SOUTH Coast's world champion UFC fighter Alex Volkanovski has well and truly earned the right to sit back and take a little break.
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It's now up to would be contenders Korean Zombie [Chan Sung Jung] and Zabit Magomedsharipov to make a case to fight Volkanovski for the Featherweight title.
In July, Volkanovski, a former Warilla-Lake South Gorilla, beat Max Holloway for a second straight time, to retain his world title.
But COVID-19 restrictions almost torpedoed the title fight at Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.
"We had a lot of help for this fight to happen," Volkanovski conceded.
"Once we got wind that we were fighting Max at Fight Island, we only had six weeks to prepare, and there was no contact training at the time."
Trainer Joe Lopez and manager Lube Markovski worked with Member for Wollongong Paul Scully, who helped the team get exemptions to train.
"Everyone did their part and within a couple of days we were allowed to train," Volkanovski said.
"On the Friday we knew about the fight, by Monday we were allowed to train. That made a huge difference."
The team also had help to get exemptions to leave the country.
"We had a lot of people who did everything they could to get us over there, and did it as quick as possible because we didn't have much time to prepare," Volkanovski said.
"Being a fighter in COVID times is tough, but it is the same for everyone.
I got tested for COVID 15 times while I was in camp. Training was tough but we found a way to get into fighting shape for the main fight.
- Alex Volkanovski
"I got tested for COVID 15 times while I was in camp. Training was tough but we found a way to get into fighting shape for the main fight."
Happy to be home in Windang with his wife and kids, Volkanovski was keeping a close eye on his challenges.
"Korean Zombie and Zabid are up there but they are probably one fight away from a title shot. I think they are fighting soon," he said.
Even Henry Cejudo, who won world titles at flyweight and featherweight, wants a shot.
"I have options, which is a good thing."
But, if UFC chief Dana White has his way, a trilogy fight against fabled Hawaiian Max Holloway could be on the cards later this year.
"But that's just not realistic and they know that. That would just be silly," Volkanovski said.
"There's a few options but the beauty of being the champ and fighting not too long ago, I can let everything play out and I can just have my eyes on them and whoever it is just do it.
"I want to fight the number one contender. I don't care who you are. I don't care if people think you are the hardest match-up, I ain't scared of no one in the division.
"I believe my hardest match-ups have already been had and won in my division.
"So whoever is there bring it on."