DYNAMIC Australian featherweight Alex Volkanovski will make his return to the Octagon at UFC Auckland in June, where he’ll face Japanese veteran Mizuto Hirota.

Volkanovski (14-1) made a belated UFC debut in Melbourne last November and earned a dominant second-round TKO victory over Yusuke Kasuya.

He’ll now faced grizzled veteran Hirota (18-7-2), a long-time veteran of the Japanese MMA scene who is unbeaten in his last five fights, including a dominant decision victory over Cole Miller last December.

media_camera Volkanovski scored a second-round TKO in his UFC debut last November.

Volkanovski says he can see the similarities between himself and the former DEEP lightweight champion but believes he is superior in all aspects.

“He looked strong, fit and he’s an aggressive, a come forward fighter who likes the clinch. Sort of similar to my style.

“I think I’m going to be a lot more technical and just better everywhere.

“Even though he’s strong I know I’m going to be stronger. I think I’ve got him everywhere.

“I think it’s a good fight for me, he’s had a few fights in the UFC and he’s a decent name, especially in Asia, so it’ll be good to take him out and turn some heads.”

Volkanovksi had previously been slated to make his second UFC appearance in Halifax in February until his planned opponent, Michael Quinoes, withdrew less than a week before the event.

The former Warilla Gorillas prop says he plans to put the featherweight division on notice in his debut at his natural weight.

“I’m pretty confident I’m going to win my next few fights and get up in the rankings and by 2018 I’m expecting to be pretty high in the ranks, so I just want it to hurry up and happen.

“I’m confident in my abilities and I know where I’ll be in a few years time so I just want to hurry up and get the giddy-up.

“There’s a lot more room to improve, which is scary for my opposition I reckon, because I feel like I can definitely get much better.

“Featherweight division better look out.”

The UFC’s second visit to New Zealand will be headlined by rising American heavyweight Derrick Lewis and local hero Mark Hunt.