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Bo Nickal shares big news on UFC 314 headliner, pushes for Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev fight

A UFC middleweight rising star just dropped major news on Ilia Topuria's next title defense. According to the American wrestling specialist, the Georgian-Spanish champion will be defending his UFC featherweight title against former champ Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of the Miami card.

'El Matador' initially won the title by knocking out 'The Great' early last year.

Topuria has since defended the belt once by knocking out another former champion, Max Holloway, back in October. As for Volkanovski, the Aussie former champ hasn't fought since dropping the belt to Topuria. According to Bo Nickal, the rematch between the two powerhouse featherweights is already "official" and he's not too happy about it.

Speaking on his podcast, Nickal said:

"They just announced Ilia [Topuria] and [Alexander] Volk[Volkanovski]. April, [UFC] 314, I think? Ilia and [UFC lightweight champion] Islam [Makhachev] would be sick. [But] I don't know about an Ilia and Volk rematch. I mean I get it. Volk had to rematch [Max] Holloway a bunch of times.I love Volk. He's great. [But] I don't see a path to victory for him."

When his podcast co-host pointed out that Ilia Topuria vs. Alexander Volkanovski II isn't official yet, Nickal said:

"No, it's official. I know for a fact. I don't know if it's announced, for a fact. But I know it's happening for a fact. Inside sources. I'm annoucing it...I might fight on that card. That's a card I'm trying to fight on."

Check out Bo Nickal's comments below:


Ilia Topuria's possible foe, Alexander Volkanovski, hints at new fight announcement after visiting City Kickboxing

Bo Nickal might be telling the truth as Alexander Volkanovski may have already started his fight camp as early as last week. The New South Wales native visited his friends and teammates at City Kickboxing in New Zealand to help former UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya prepare for his fight at UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1.

While he's there to help out a friend and teammate, Volkanovski hinted in his vlog that this might be the start of his fight camp as he might have a new fight coming soon.

Volkanovski said:

"It's 2025. Right, and after the holidays we want to get stuck in the training. We're training the whole year through but now we're going to really ramp things up because, you know, we think we might be fighting soon."

Volkanovski didn't say who his opponent will be but if we take Nickal's words seriously, it might very well be Topuria. With the former world champion training at City Kickboxing with the likes of Dan Hooker and Israel Adesanya, it looks like he's resharpening his striking skills, to deter Topuria's fight-ending KO power.

Check out Volkanovski training below (0:37):

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