This past Saturday, Alexander Volkanovski successfully defended his featherweight title against Brian Ortega at UFC 266, earning a unanimous decision in one of the best fights of the year, and one of the most decorated athletes in UFC history is hoping he will be next in line for the champ..

After the UFC 266 main event, Olympic gold medalist and former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo immediately jumped on Twitter to call for a shot at Volkanovski, who brushed off “the little germ” in the post-fight press conference. However, Cejudo has not deterred by Volkanovski’s response, and says that it’s not Volkanovski who is the challenge in the first place, it’s UFC President Dana White.

“Alexander the Average, this overgrown midget,” Cejudo told TMZ Sports. “This is the thing, it’s not even a challenge against this ugly face. It’s really a challenge against Dana White. How are you gonna doubt an Olympic champ, dude? Olympic champ, how are you gonna doubt a flyweight champ and a two-division champ in the UFC? It’s crazy. Anybody that would doubt me is freaking crazy. Let me go up, man.”

Cejudo retired from MMA last year following his bantamweight title defense over Dominick Cruz at UFC 249, however, he has remained interested in returning for a shot at the featherweight belt, and immortality. There has never been a three-division champion in UFC history, and though Cejudo walked away in part because of pay dispute, the chance to do something never done before has held a powerful sway over “Triple C,” and so he made a heartfelt appeal to Dana White to give him the opportunity.

“Not only do I believe that I can beat him, I know I can stop him,” Cejudo said. “As much as I saw good things from Volkanovski, there are still a lot of holes. I believe my height would be problem for him, because he is a couple inches taller than me. My speed, my wrestling, my experience, I’ve been in there against the best. Okay, Alexander the Average had a great performance, it was a great fight, I just believe that I have the “It” factor to beat this dude. Not only to beat this dude, but to stop him.

“Allow me to make history. If he’s that good, allow him to shut me up. Dana White, if you’re listening, this is a real message. Forget the cringe, forget the persona, this is straight up me: I am the greatest combat athlete of all time and I promise you, if you give me the opportunity, I will knock this dude out in no less than three rounds.”

For his part, Volkanovski seems open to the idea of facing Cejudo, admitting that the former two-division champion does not “deserve” a title shot but saying that because he wants to fight more often than he has been able to the past year, there could be an opportunity for Cejudo in the near future. And even though he has been retired for the past 14 months, Cejudo says he can be ready to go in no time. In fact, given where his weight is currently, “Triple C” says featherweight would be ideal to his return.

“I’m 165 pounds, believe it or not. 145 would fit me perfect,” Cejudo concluded. “Again, if anybody doubts this mind, if you think I won the Olympics because I got lucky or the two belts, hate the cringe, whatever the hell, but I’m a freaking competitor and I just want a challenge. I want a shot at legacy. I want a shot to be the first UFC triple champ, to win three belts on top of my Olympic gold medal. That’s it.”

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VIDEO STEW

The MMA Hour.

Woodley on his tattoo.

Israel Adesanya’s reaction to Brian Ortega’s sub attempts is so pure.

Free fights.

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LISTEN UP

The Co-Main Event. Discussing UFC 266 and Jon Jones latest legal troubles.

Jack Slack. Discussing UFC 266 and ONE Championship.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Beef.

Other responses.

Brotherly love.

Oscar De La Hoya.

The champ.

Kamaru Usman.

Islam Makhachev.

Giga Chikadze.

Congratulations are in order for Travis Browne and Ronda Rousey.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Kayla Harrison (11-0) vs. Taylor Guardado (3-1); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-5) vs. Ray Cooper III (23-7-1); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Claressa Shields (1-0) vs. Abigail Montes (2-0); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Movlid Khabulaev (18-0-1) vs. Chris Wade (20-6); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

B. Cappelozza (13-5) vs. Ante Delija (19-4); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Antonio Carlos Junior (12-5) vs. Marthin Hamlet (8-2); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Loik Radzhabov (15-3-1) vs. Raush Manflo (14-3); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Omari Akhmedov (21-6-1) vs. Jordan Young (11-2); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Don Madge (9-3-1) vs. Nathan Williams (13-7); PFL Championship, Oct. 27.

Jose Aldo (30-7) vs. Rob Font (19-4); UFC Fight Night, Dec. 4.

Derek Brunson (23-7) vs. Jared Cannonier (14-5); UFC 270, Jan. 22.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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