Alexander Volkanovski had a fiery response to a UFC 319 newcomer who promises to make the apple wagon upset.
Before Khamzat Chimaev Drus Du Persis challenges the UFC Middleweight title in Saturday's pay-per-view Main Event, a number of other ranked names and complaints will be in action in the United Center in Chicago.
This includes unbeaten co-headliner Lerone Murphy, who returns after beating Josh Emmett in an Apex Main Event last May. Then on his pursuit of a first title shot, Murphy Aaron Pico will welcome at the UFC.
The former Bellator -ProSpect wants to have an immediate impact and earn its own championship opportunity in a fast time by making an emphatic arrival. And if he has to do this in the 'Windy City' on August 16, Pico has faith in his chances against the featherweight champion.
Alexander Volkanovski responds to the trust of Aaron Pico by promising 'mopping the floor' with him
Speaking over the main area of FOX Sports, Pico looked ahead to a possible collision with Volkanovski, the ruling king on 145 pounds and a leading name in the debate of featherweight goats. Despite the greatness of the Australian, the UFC newcomer suggested that he has all the tools needed to spend the champion.
Volkanovski had his chance to respond to his potential future challenger in the same show, and the mostly waste-free 'Alexander the Great' did not:
“You have to think so. That's fine,” said Volkanovski about Pico's comments. “Everyone has the chance of a puncher.
“He is an all-American wrestler, but I will now tell you, what is the bet if we were struggling, I would embarrass him there. Many people want to be from:” I did this, I did that, “as if I didn't confront them with them in the gym. I really kept very much harder than him, and I trust myself.
“He must have that confidence, right?” Volkanovski continued. “I'm not really going to take it seriously until he goes and show me something. You have done things in your other promotions … Come here, do it here, and okay, I'll look at it more.
“He only has the chance of a puncher, I will leave it at that … I think I would be honest – it fascinates me because I think I would crumble him in the wrestling department … I mop the floor with him.”
Henry Cejudo does not agree with the prediction of Alexander Volkanovski
Pico is an unknown amount for those who are predominantly UFC viewers, so they will probably agree with the comments of Volkanovski about how their fight would come out. Henry Cejudo is a man who is certainly not.
After he insisted that the person winning in the UFC 319 Main Event should get the next title shot of featherweight, Cejudo went one step further by supporting Pico to beat Volkanovski if he secures a championship fight with his performance in Chicago on August 16.
“The winner of this fight is going to fight Alexander Volkanovski, and I also feel that the winner of this fight will be our next champion,” said Cejudo on his 4 pounds next to Kamaru Usman.
“All the respect for people, but guy, these young weapons. Lerone Murphy is fighting Aaron Pico. Aaron Pico is in his F-Prime, Bro. Power, struggling; he has been a manchild since he was a child, competing at the highest level while he was in high school, beating world champion.”