Dana White says the ball is in Justin Gaethje’s court regarding a potential champion vs champion superfight.

The UFC lightweight champion appears to have a number of options after his undisputed title win at the White House this past June.

If he chooses against retiring on top, Gaethje could defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan in 2027. Another possibility recently emerged when featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski expressed interest in a lightweight return.

The UFC president is on board when it comes to booking ‘The Highlight’ vs ‘Alexander the Great’. Now, the promotion awaits an answer from Gaethje.

Dana White wants to grant Alexander Volkanovski’s wish if Justin Gaethje gives the green light

During a recent appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White reiterated his support behind Volkanovski’s call to face Gaethje in 2027 following his successful featherweight title defense over Movsar Evloev at UFC 333.

The UFC boss admitted the fight being made now rests entirely on the shoulders of Gaethje, who has yet to disclose his plans moving forward.

“I would pretty much do anything for Alexander Volkanovski at this point in his career,” White said.

“Great guy, great athlete, great champion. The big question is: what does Justin Gaethje wanna do?

“Justin, coming off this unbelievable win at the White House,” he continued. “He’s an incredible athlete too; what does he wanna do next?

“I don’t know yet… We’re talking to him, but we’ll figure it out. He’s going to have to pull the trigger one way or another.”

Gaethje finished Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 to finally reach the lightweight throne. He immediately suggested that bout could go down as his very last appearance inside the Octagon.

The promotion may have a decision to make if Gaethje does continue fighting, given Tsarukyan’s presence as a clear and deserving next challenger. He has been snubbed before, and fan outrage would be high if that were to happen again.

The title could be vacated for Gaethje vs Volkanovski to happen, meaning Tsarukyan would fight a fellow contender for the lightweight belt.

At the age of 38, Volkanovski is also approaching his last dance in the UFC. But the Australian continues to defy the norm when it comes to late-career declines in the lower weight classes.

Now, Volkanovski’s wins over Diego Lopes and Evloev may have earned him a second chance to impress up at 155 pounds.

The Aussie previously ventured up to the heavier weight class in 2023, challenging now-welterweight champ Islam Makhachev on two occasions.

Volkanovski pushed Makhachev all the way at UFC 284, going the five-round distance with the Dagestani and convincing some that he deserved to win. After that decision defeat, ‘Alexander the Great’ answered the late-notice call for a rematch at UFC 294, resulting in a first-round knockout loss.

A return to the division to face Gaethje would provide an entirely different task for Volkanovski.

While he had to prepare for Makhachev’s relentless and smothering wrestling game the first time around, a 2027 lightweight move would mean gearing up for an all-action, brawling style that has cemented Gaethje as one of the most aggressive strikers in UFC history.