Ilia Topuria has confessed he will never fight Alexander Volkanovski, despite having previously beaten the Australian, because he has “so much affection and respect… I couldn’t hit him.”

Topuria enjoyed a glorious three-match run before his first-ever UFC loss, knocking out Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira en-route to winning the competition’s feather and lightweight belts.

After being defeated by Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250 – where many expected Topuria to add ‘The Highlight’ to his already highlight-laden CV – the Georgian-Spanish fighter has confessed it is Volkanovski that he will never fight again, not the American.

Alexander Volkanovski wants a rematch, but Ilia Topuria won’t grant his UFC wish

The Australian, who Topuria has vowed never to face again, has enjoyed an unusual career resurgence, even as one of the UFC’s greatest-ever fighters, since losing to the Georgian-Spanish athlete.

Volkanovski rebounded and regained his featherweight belt by defeating Diego Lopes twice, then retained his title with a TKO win versus Movsar Evloev at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.

After doing so, the Australian expressed interest in fighting Topuria once more, to try and claim a career-defining victory against the UFC star, who boasts a 17-1 record.

“If it was going to be for a lightweight title, then yeah, that would be great,” confessed Volkanovski. “To get that win back.

“Gaethje took that 0 off him. I can’t say I could get the chance to do that, but to get that win back would be great.

"I’ve got nothing against him, he’s a great fighter and a great dude. But, at the same time, I’m a competitor and I would love to test myself against him,” concluded the Australian.

Ilia Topuria explains strangely sweet motivation for avoiding Alexander Volkanovski rematch

Speaking with MMA reporter Alvaro Colmenero, the Georgian-Spanish UFC star described Volkanovski as “the best featherweight that has ever existed, the most dominant,” then explained why he will never fight in the Australian’s suggested rematch.

"I have so much affection and respect for him that I couldn't hit him," confessed Topuria. "I like him too much.

The UFC star acknowledged that Volkanovski’s claim to being the featherweight division’s ‘GOAT’ is stronger than his, having “done much more at that weight than I have.”

“I was the champion, and I’ve done things that nobody else has done, but I left the division. He’s done much more at that weight than I have. It’s been many years."

Instead, as many UFC fans will have expected, it is Gaethje that is being eyed up by Topuria for a rematch. The 29-year-old, who is set to resume contact training in January 2027, has promised “more chapters” with the American, who he accused of loading his gloves at a White House.

"I don't think that he's going to retire without one more paycheck, because he's not going to have that paycheck with any other opponent," confessed the 29-year-old, plainly.

Beyond his grudge match with Gaethje, the UFC star has also expressed willingness to fight both Arman Tsarukyan and Paddy Pimblett, describing himself as “the fight, right now, in the division.”

Topuria, who recently made a frightening confession about the eye injury he sustained versus Gaethje, is set to return on the UFC’s calendar in 2027. Details regarding his next fight and opponent, set to be beyond April of next year, are yet to be revealed.