Alexander Volkanovski says he would welcome another top fighter joining the featherweight division.
Diego Lopes will challenge the 145lb champion for his title at UFC 325 this Saturday night.
The winner was expected to face either Movsar Evloev or Lerone Murphy, until recently.
But Arman Tsarukyan has now changed the landscape by expressing interest in moving down a weight class to chase featherweight gold.
Alexander Volkanovski says he is open to facing Arman Tsarukyan
Arman Tsarukyan is the top-ranked contender at lightweight, but a title shot does not seem to be coming his way anytime soon.
Justin Gaethje, who recently won the interim belt, is expected to face Ilia Topuria in a unification bout later this year.
Rather than wait around at 155lbs, Tsarukyan has hinted at dropping back down to featherweight.
He has not fought in that division since 2017 but says recent research shows he can still make the weight.
During the UFC 325 Media Day, Volkanovski was asked about Tsarukyan and replied: “I love challenges.
“He would obviously be a tough challenge. If he could get down there, that would definitely be a tough challenge.
“Whatever comes my way, I’ll be happy. But Movsar, Lerone – incredible records, or even Arman if he was to come down, yeah, that’s a challenge. So that’ll definitely be something. I feel like my takedown defense is pretty solid, so that’ll definitely be a fun one.”
Alexander Volkanovski: ‘I’m not retiring after UFC 325’
There had been plenty of talk that ‘The Great’ might hang up the gloves regardless of the outcome at UFC 325.
It would have made sense, especially with a chance to finish his career by headlining a card in front of a home crowd in Sydney, Australia.
However, Volkanovski has recently dismissed those retirement rumours and even laid out what he wants to do after UFC 325.
“I’ll get out of this one,” he said.
“Get my hand raised. Hopefully, no damage, and get back in there straight away.
“We’ll see what happens after that. That’s sort of where we’re at.”
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