Henry Cejudo has announced his desire to scale up to the featherweight division in the future after knocking down Marlon Moraes to emerge as a two-division UFC champion at UFC 238. The UFC flyweight and bantamweight champ hopes to challenge for that division’s belt too.

However, Alex Volkanovski, a top contender in the UFC featherweight division thinks the 32-year old should have a rethink of his decision. 

“Honestly, what he’s done is unbelievable. It was good on him. I actually picked him to win. I didn’t expect him to have so many problems earlier. I knew the guy was powerful. Maybe the ankle was why was he was sort of cowering to the kicks a little bit, if you know what I mean. . .

“So for him to overcome that and get it done, good on him. Him coming to 145, you gotta be quick in this division, but we’re still quick and we’re just a whole another powerful type of beast. And we’re a stacked division, a lot of very tough guys in our division that I don’t think he’ll want any of that. But maybe he’ll give it a crack, maybe UFC will let him do it. But yeah, that will change quick.”

Earlier this week, Cejudo has boasted that his desire is to battle fellow compatriot and erstwhile UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar for the featherweight title. Of course, this will depend on the result of Edgar’s fight with champ Max Holloway at UFC 240 in July.

However, Volkanovski who is scheduled to engage a fight with the winner between Edgar and Holloway, believes Cejudo’s comment hit the wrong target.

“Obviously I was dirty on it,” Volkanovski said. “Like, what the hell? But, you know, again, I always try and stay positive. Even when you’re in a hospital bed worrying about your leg being chopped off, getting the title off you, you know what I mean? I was hit pretty hard all at once. But at the same time I was like, well, it is what it is, I’m still looking, let’s get this leg better. I still want that title by the end of the year. So, you know, that still looks like that’s the plans anyway. So, let them fight.

“If anyone was gonna grass cut the title in front of me I’m glad it was Frankie. Frankie was someone that does deserve it. He’s been around, he’s done great things for the sport, he is a top bloke. So, good on him. But at the same time, if he wins or someone gets injured on July 26^th, I’m filling in for that spot and I’ll take that title on. I’ll be ready. I’m gonna fight fit, I’m gonna stay on weight. But if not, whoever wins can take me on later that year. I want that belt before the end of 2019. That’s my goal. So one more fight and I want that belt before the end of the year.”