Dana White says the UFC has ‘huge plans’ for Alexander Volkanovski

UFC 232 on December 29 plays host to plenty of great matchups to close out the year. One of which happens to take place at 145-pounds as top contenders Alexander Volkanovski and Chad Mendes face off.

For the former two-time title challenger in Mendes, this will be only his second fight since returning from a two-year suspension in July.

Australia’s Volkanovski also happened to fight and get a victory on the card that Mendes returned at in Boise, Idaho. After Volkanovski’s biggest career win over Darren Elkins, he immediately asked for a bout with the Team Alpha Male staple in Mendes.

Well, UFC president Dana White liked it enough to make it happen and the boss thinks a bright future awaits the Aussie as he told the DailyTelegraph.

“Absolutely love him. He’s undefeated, and an awesome fighter. And that match up with Mendes, yeah, it’s done. It’s going to be a massive test but now, to be fighting on a card in Las Vegas…we have huge plans for the guy.”

The 18-1 Alexander Volkanovski has won five straight bouts in the UFC since making his promotional debut in November 2016. His grind style and powerful mix of wrestling and boxing has proven unmatched for everyone he’s fought so far. Which just makes this match all the more intriguing.

Chad Mendes has never been out-grappled in his lengthy career, but if anyone is going to try and change that, it certainly could be the Aussie.

Here’s how the rest of the stacked UFC 232 card currently shakes out.

Light Heavyweight – 205lbs: (C) – Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson

Featherweight – 145lbs: (C)Cris Cyborg vs. (BW C)Amanda Nunes

Welterweight – 170lbs: Carlos Condit vs. Michael Chiesa

Light Heavyweight – 205lbs: Ilir Latifi vs. Corey Anderson

Featherweight: Chad Mendes vs. Alexander Volkanovski

Heavyweight – 207-265lbs: Andrei Arlovski vs. Walt Harris

Featherweight: Cat Zingano vs. Megan Anderson

Bantamweight – 135lbs: Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Petr Yan

Lightweight – 155lbs: BJ Penn vs. Ryan Hall

Bantamweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. TBD

Middleweight – 185lbs: Uriah Hall vs. Bevon Lewis

Welterweight: Curtis Millender vs. Siyar Bahadurzada

on 11/22/2018