‘Dumbest idea I’ve heard’: UFC great unloads on Volk’s farewell plan — as rival takes swipe

Alexander Volkanovski's incredible push to become a two-division UFC king hasn't exactly been embraced universally - with analyst Chael Sonnen describing it as "one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard".

Regardless, the declaration comes as hyped UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan has offered up his own shock title proposal for Australia's No.1 fighter … albeit after calling the featherweight king old and chinny.

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Volkanovski is this week being hailed one the Australia's greatest athletes after a history-making win over Russian bogeyman Movsar Evloev.

While Evloev came into last Sunday's UFC 333 headliner on an unbeaten tear of 20 straight wins, Volk finished him within two rounds.

Immediately afterwards, the UFC featherweight GOAT then offered to finish his career with a superfight against Justin Gaethje, the reigning UFC lightweight champ Justin Gaethje.

However, speaking on his popular Youtube channel on Wednesday, Sonnen shouted down the idea while also suggesting Volkanovski - who is now being likened to Don Bradman, Cathy Freeman and co -- has no idea about fight promotion.

Others to pan Volk-Gaethje include UFC journalist Ariel Helwani and UFC great Michael Bisping.

"Boy, I like Volkanovski," Sonnen started of his own take on the subject. "I got to tell you, I just respect Volkanovski.

"But he does not know which way is up.

"I mean, there is a reason that Valentina Shevchenko … nobody has fought for more championships in co-main events than Shevchenko … but there's a reason that the next highest in history is Volkanovski.

"He does not know what we are doing here.

"And I mean this respectfully. Volk can handle this.

"[But] he does not know what we are doing here.

"Volkanovski just laid out one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard. And this is from a guy that really shouldn't be having dumb ideas, in all fairness.

"[Laughs] He's gonna go up and fight Justin Gaethje?

"He's got no problem with him. They get along. But they're gonna throw their arms around each other and put the gloves down in the middle when this thing is over?

"It's like, who does that help? Why would anybody book that fight?

"It's just a really weird thing to do …"

Sonnen also pushed back on Volkansovski saying the move was about challenging himself.

The retired UFC star suggested if that were truly the case, the Aussie should relinquish his UFC featherweight strap and then shift up.

"I do challenge the notion 'I will go to 155 to test myself to fight Gaethje'," Sonnen said.

"That's a cop out.

"And I don't mean that it's conscious. It's subconsciously [a cop out].

"If you want to go to 155 and test yourself, drop the strap and go into the division. Exactly what Ilia Topuria did.

"And I understand Ilia ended up with a title shot. But he was not guaranteed a title shot when he dropped the strap and moved into the division.

"You want to test yourself? Do what Max Holloway did. Be a 45 pounder that enters 55 with no guarantee."

Meanwhile, the other guy who is right there in the mix for UFC lightweight gold -- Tsarukyan - has surprisingly declared himself open to a Volkanovski showdown.

Speaking in an interview with Helen Yee, Tsarukyan stressed that, while he has to be next man up for Gaethje, he would also accept a Volk challenge if 'The Highlight' choses retirement instead of facing him.

"Someone is trying to duck me; it's Justin Gaethje," the challenger said.

"Now he's talking about retirement.

"Either UFC is going to pay him so much money that he's going to fight, or he's just going to retire.

"They told me they're going to let me know at the end of November ..."

And as for the Australian's challenge?

"I would fight [Volkanovski]," he said, before taking a swipe at the man now widely considered among the greatst UFC fighters ever.

"I think it's a good fight for me stylistically. He's old, bad chin.

"He's a tough opponent, but he's a little bit old now and with me, it's a perfect fight."

Speaking on his Believe You Me podcast, meanwhile, Bisping also suggested giving Volkanovski the title shot ahead of Tsarukyan would be a "slap in the face".

While the retired champ is a huge fan of Volkanovski -- and agrees the Windang Warrior "deserves" whatever he wants - Bisping also says it would be unfair for Tsarukyan to not get the next crack at Gaethje.

"Give the man what he wants" Bisping said of Volk. "But also on the flip side, I would understand if Justin Gaethje was hesitant to want to do that.

"And I think after what Arman Tsarukyan did, after having the shot against Islam, after hurting himself, after beating Charles Oliveira, after finishing Mauricio Ruffy, it's going to be a slap in the face."

Prior to his most recent title win, Volk revealed on 'Who The Fook Are These Guys?' that he wants Gaethje, saying it would be a fitting end to both their octagon careers.

After the Evloev win, he also said if the fight was granted, he would retire afterwards -- win or lose.

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Speaking on Submission Radio meanwhile, Volkanovski's coach Joe Lopez stressed his fighter was absolutely capable of upsetting Gaethje.

Following his win on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, Las Vegas oddsmakers drew up a market that had Volk the +157 outsider, and Gaethje a -180 favourite.

And now Lopez has weighed in on his charge once again fighting for UFC lightweight gold.

"Justin hits like a truck and he's got the wrestling," the trainer said. "But he's been beaten, and I think Volk would beat him.

"I think Volk's fight IQ would be a little bit too much for Justin, even though Justin's also got [coach] Trevor Wittman and those guys -- probably one of the other great teams out there.

"As a tactician and as a coach, he can put game plans together. I mean, look what he did to Ilia, you know? You can never underestimate him.

"It would be an interesting one, and it would be a great last hurrah for both boys."