MELBOURNE, Australia – Alex Volkanovski believes UFC featherweight champ Max Holloway still has more work to do before he can seriously consider changing weight classes.

Volkanovski (19-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC), a top contender who is coming off a knockout victory over former multi-time title challenger Chad Mendes, is making a charge toward the 145-pound title with a 16-fight winning streak, including six-straight in the octagon.

The Australian fighter believes he is on the short-list of potential title challengers, but feels he likely has one more fight ahead before getting a crack at the belt. He said he hopes Holloway (20-3 MMA, 16-3 UFC) is still there when he gets to the top.

“Everyone is talking about him going to lightweight, I’m like, ‘Wait a second, fight me before you go,'” Volkanovski said at a guest fighter media session ahead of Saturday’s UFC 234 event. “They’re trying to say there’s nothing left in this division, I just think that’s rubbish. My next fight, I guarantee everyone, the whole world is going to be saying give me that title shot. I guarantee it.”

Volkanovski called out Jose Aldo (28-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) following the former longtime UFC champ’s second-round TKO of Renato Moicano at UFC on ESPN+ 2 this past weekend. The Brazilian somewhat dismissed Volkanovski when asked about it, though, but said he would like to compete at May’s UFC 237 event, which is reportedly set to take place in Curitiba.

The chance to fight Aldo, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA featherweight rankings, would be significant for No. 5-ranked Volkanovski, but he said he’s not entirely sure if it makes sense.

“He said, ‘Sorry,'” Volkanovski said. “I don’t know if that’s a, ‘Sorry, I don’t know him.’ Or a, ‘Sorry, that ain’t happening.’ I don’t really care. I don’t think he’s looking at a title run, so if that fight makes sense for me, I don’t even know.

“I know who he is, I ain’t going to lie. I know exactly who he is and he’s great. I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s done, but at the same time my path is to that title, and if he’s in front of me I’m going to do what I’m going to do against all of them.”

Volkanovski is currently on a roll in his career and is eager to keep that momentum going. He said he’s willing to wait a reasonable amount of time for someone ahead of him in the rankings to become available, but if the timeline becomes too extreme will then consider a lesser matchup.

Right now, though, Volkanovski carries the belief he’s the best featherweight in the world, and said he just wants the chance to prove it.

“I want to fight someone for the No. 1 contender, so whoever is looking to take that title fight, me first and let’s see who deserves this shot,” Volkanovski said. “Or give me the shot right away let’s not mess about. … However it works, just give me a fight and give me someone right up there.”

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