Volk ready to step in for UFC 303 main event amid uncertainty

Alexander Volkanovski is prepared to rescue the UFC again.

With the UFC 303 main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler seemingly in jeopardy after a press conference in Dublin was called off at the last minute, the former featherweight champion said he'd be willing to step in as a replacement.

"Yeah, I reckon 100%," Volkanovski told Submission Radio. "As long as it's a big fight. I won't just take any fight. Like you said, that's a big deal. Save the day as well, I don't know, I feel like I just love saving the day. I'm just that good of a guy. If I have to save the day, I'll save the day.

"Obviously, get paid well for it as well. But you never know. I just was muckin' around with that. I don't even know if - probably nothing even happened. It's probably just a little hiccups and everyone's blowing it out of proportion, but I'll have fun and throw the name out there just for a bit of a laugh."

MMA reporter Ariel Helwani reported Tuesday that there's "hope" that McGregor versus Chandler goes ahead, but added that the UFC has "sent out feelers" for potential replacements.

Volkanovski has been one of the promotion's most reliable performers, taking part in six title bouts since April 2022.

However, the Australian's willingness to take fights has backfired of late. Volkanovski accepted an October rematch with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev on two weeks' notice, only to suffer a first-round knockout loss.

The 35-year-old opted against a significant break before returning to the Octagon and again was victim to a knockout loss that lost him his 145-pound belt, this time at the hands of Ilia Topuria in February. It was the first time in his career that Volkanovski lost two fights in a row.