Alex Volkanovski has called for a rematch against Islam Makhachev, following a controversial decision loss in the UFC 284 main event.
The Aussie star was looking to become a simultaneous two-division champion in Perth, taking on the Russian lightweight for the 155lb title.
Volkanovski fell agonosingly short of victory, with the judges scoring the fight 48-47 48-47 49-46 in Makhachev's favour despite a late flurry of shots from the challenger that almost ended the fight.
The 34-year-old took to social media on Sunday night (AEDT) to reveal he had already re-watched the fight and believes he did enough to take the title off Makhachev.
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"Just watched the fight, I definitely think I won [rounds] 2, 3 and 5," Volkanovski said.
"Surprised I didn’t get my hand raised! Let’s do the rematch, anywhere, anytime."
Just watched the fight, I definitely think I won 2,3 and 5. Surprised I didn’t get my hand raised! Let’s do the rematch, anywhere, anytime! 👊
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) February 12, 2023
Volkanovski was gallant in defeat and certainly lost no admirers, with his striking and grappling matching the unrelenting Dagestani sensation.
The Windang product told reporters after the fight that he was keen to get back in there with Makhachev as soon as possible.
“I expected to win...obviously people are proud of how that went, but I expected to go out there and win and dominate," he said.
"It was good, I’m still proud of myself and proved a lot of people wrong, but I didn’t get my hand raised.
“I’m hearing that he was saying – I could be wrong – that he was going back to his corner and he wants a rematch because he thought he lost. I'll take him up on that.
"I just heard that from someone…I will watch the fight and we will see.
"He put the title on the line – but let’s remember what pound-for-pound is, why do you think I was a massive underdog?
"At the same time, I expected to win so I ain’t gonna sit there and say ‘he was bigger’ - you went up to f*****g lightweight, of course, that’s expected."
Volkanovski's loss was just the second of his career and the first during his UFC tenure, but his record at featherweight is still unmatched within the company.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan slammed the judges during a live watch party on YouTube and believes that Volkanovski was victorious in the bout.
"Volkanovski is the f*****g double-champ, 100 per cent," he said.
"What a f*****g fight. He beat him, he f*****g beat him. He beat Islam, in Australia.
"Oh my God. We were convinced, we might have been biased."
Joe Rogan says Alexander Volkanovski should've been the winner against Islam Makhachev #UFC284 pic.twitter.com/vUkN3PRW0r
— SOUND (@itsavibe) February 12, 2023
Volkanovski is now expected to return to featherweight for an undisputed title fight with interim champion Yair Rodriguez, who was victorious in the co-main event on Sunday.