Red-hot Alexander Volkanovski wants to fight on the upcoming Robert Whittaker-Israel Adesanya world title card mooted for Australia after convincingly beating UFC legend Jose Aldo in Rio de Janeiro.
The NSW south coast fighter won all three rounds, earning a 30-27 decision from the three judges on the UFC 237 card, on which Jessica Anderade also dethroned women's strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.
Volkanovski improved his UFC record to 7-0 and extended his winning MMA streak to 17 bouts, with current UFC heavyweight champion and ESPN commentator Daniel Cormier describing the Australian's performance as phenomenal.
Going into the bout, Aldo was ranked the No.1 featherweight, three places ahead of Volkanovski, who will now look for a title fight against champion Max Holloway.
"I should be ranked No.1 (after this). Let's set it up,'" said Volkanovski whose sole MMA loss in 21 fights was six years ago.
"I wouldn't mind being on the same (Whittaker-Adesanya) card in Australia."
Volkanovski's accurate leg kicks and punching never allowed Aldo to get into a rhythm.
"I wanted to land punches; that's why I was standing, trading a long time," he said.
He outworked Aldo, who spent most of the final round pinned against the cage.
"I think it would have been incredible if I had finished Jose Aldo in his hometown but at the same time, I mastered for a whole fight one of the greatest fighters of all time," Volkanovski said.
"I'm going for the title."
He becomes the first fighter to beat Aldo in a non-title UFC fight.
Brazilian Andrade stunned American Namajunas with a second-round knockout.
Andrade had her left eye busted open in the first round and was getting dominated until she scooped Namajunas and drove her head into the canvas for a spectacular ending.
Brazilian UFC legend and former middleweight champion Anderson Silva suffered a first round TKO loss to American Jared Cannonier, who landed a devastating right kick to the inside of his right knee.
Share
