Having waited eight years to fight in front of friends and family, UFC great Alexander Volkanovski is far from ready to retire as he eyes a spot on the White House card that will mark Donald Trump's birthday.
Volkanovski's first featherweight title defence, against Diego Lopes in Sydney on Sunday, has been clouded by retirement speculation in the MMA community.
Australia's greatest UFC fighter hasn't entered the cage on home soil since February 2023, when he lost to then lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in Perth.
The 37-year-old from the NSW south coast hasn't fought in Sydney since 2017.
But the prospect of UFC 325 doubling as both homecoming and final farewell is not on the cards, according to Volkanovski.
Volkanovski has hosed down suggestions he could quit, eyeing a quick turnaround after fighting the Brazilian he defeated on points to regain the vacant featherweight crown in 2025.
And that could mean swapping Qudos Bank Arena for the South Lawn of the White House, where the UFC will stage an event on June 14 that is being spruiked as a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The White House card is expected to include multiple title fights.
"That timing works because I plan on going out there (on Sunday) and sending a statement, take minimal damage and have a pretty quick turnaround," Volkanovski told AAP.
Volkanovski, who has a chance to tie Brazilian legend Jose Aldo for the most UFC featherweight title wins, admits Sunday will be a special moment.
"I just love the opportunity to be able to have a crazy event, a crazy moment and do that here in Sydney in front of my family and friends," the veteran said.
"With the atmosphere, to go out there and get a finish in front of them and the crowd just going absolutely nuts.
"It will be a moment for everyone that knows me to remember for the rest of their lives."
Volkanovski suggested he might have a couple of new things to show Lopes from their previous fight in April but reckons the Brazilian striker would be better off not trying to change things.
"I don’t know if he’s going to be as capable as he thinks he is, to change much, because he didn’t show me that in the last fight," Volkanovski said.
“Even though he won’t change much, he’s still a very dangerous opponent and I don’t think he needs change.
"He’s a bigger threat when he fights the way he does. If he wants to change heaps I think that’s worse for him."
The UFC is now paying a $US25,000 ($A35,630) bonus for all finishes.
But Volkanovski doesn’t plan on changing his attitude, even though the extra cash would help purchase more equipment for the dad-of-four's farm.
"We’re always looking for the finish,” Volkanovski said.
"Now that there’s more money for finishes, that doesn’t mean I’m going to look at that as 'oh, I’m going to be more reckless now'. That’s not how I roll."
The co-main event features a much-anticipated showdown between exciting ranked lightweights Dan Hooker of New Zealand and Frenchman Benoit Saint-Denis.
Volkanovski is one of ten Australians on the card, with Sydney heavyweight Tai Tuivasa looking to end a five-fight losing streak when he faces Brazilian Tallison Teixeira.
