Alexander Volkanovski reveals next title fight plan and niggling shoulder injury

Alexander Volkanovski has announced a target for his next UFC title defence later this year, with the featherweight champion set to be octagon-side in London for a highly anticipated title eliminator. Weeks after defending his title against Diego Lopes in front of 18,000 passionate Australian fans at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Volkanovski is eyeing the winner of Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, who will come to blows at London’s O2 Arena on March 21. “I’m playing it by ear,” Volkanovski told NewsWire. “Right now we’ve got Lerone Murphy and Movsar Evloev, the two top guys who are going to be versing each other in London. “I’m headed over there, I’m going to be ringside for that, and the winner of that I think is who I’m going to be facing.” Volkanovski said he was expecting to be back in the octagon by late this year, pending a niggling shoulder injury. “Probably later in the year. I have a little shoulder injury that I need to take care of,” he said. The 37-year-old mixed martial artist said defending his title in Australia meant “everything” after he secured his 28th professional victory via unanimous decision earlier this month. “It’s incredible. To be able to do anything in Australia when it comes to sport, it’s great,” he said. “It’s unreal, we love being here doing our thing.” The champ was at the historic Prince Alfred Hotel in Melbourne’s inner north on Saturday for Tyro’s Big Buyout, where a $20,000 tab was put on for hundreds of eager punters looking to meet their UFC hero. The Big Buyout initiative aims to inject cash into Australian venues and businesses. “I’m usually very disciplined, but today I’m going to have a sneaky couple of beers,” Volkanovski said.