Alex Volkanovski will not be a UFC champion in two different weight classes … yet.
The 34-year old lost to lightweight king Islam Makhachev on Sunday in Perth by decision, ending his dream of adding another championship belt to his featherweight title, but such was the nature of the fight that it is difficult to imagine the fight being anything other than the beginning of a rivalry that could define the rest of Volkanovski's career.
Because — after five pulsating, enthralling rounds of some of the highest level mixed martial arts ever seen — the demand for more of the same will be deafening.
This clash was billed as a clash of the two best, pound-for-pound fighters in the world and it's rare that a promotional promise is so fulfilled, that such hype becomes the truth.
Makhachev deserved his unanimous decision victory. The fight was close enough that a win for either man could not be called a robbery. The Russian's grappling was effective, if not as dangerous as usual, and he acquitted himself well on his feet where his size and power advantage shone through.
However, Volkanovski has lost none of his reputation in defeat. In fact, remarkably, he seems to be earning more credit that Makhachev, despite being on the wrong end of the scorecard.
The enduring images of the fight — such as Volkanovski laughing in the first round with Makhachev on his back and hunting for a rear-naked choke, or Volkanovski whipping an already rowdy Perth crowd into a frenzy with a brilliant finish to the final round where he reigned blows down on the Russian as the bell sounded — belong to the Australian.
Volkanovski has gained as much glory as a fighter can in defeat. He was the one with everything to lose here: There have been plenty of UFC champions who tried for a second belt and found out, in quick and brutal fashion, they had bitten off far more than they could chew.
Before the fight, such an outcome seemed possible but at no point did Volkanovski seem in over his head.
He did as good a job as anybody has ever done in neutralising Makhachev's wrestling, the Dagestani magic that has brought just about everybody it has ever faced to heel.
It still won Makhachev some rounds but Volkanovski shrugged off several takedowns, landed some nice reverses and forced the Russian into a far more static style than he has previously deployed.
It is still a difficult problem, but it is not unsolvable. and Volkanovski will get another chance to work it out. He must. It does not have to happen tomorrow, or even this year, but it must happen.
The UFC is in the business of putting on fights the fans want to see and there is no punter anywhere in the whole wide world who tuned in for this bout and did not end the day wanting more.
There are other fights that must happen first. After Yair Rodriguez's impressive victory over Josh Emmett, a match between Rodriguez and Volkanovski certainly piques the interest.
Makhachev's next target is a little less clear, but lightweight is a shark tank and somebody will certainly rise to the challenge.
However, even as they defend their belts, the talk will be about them meeting again. It will dominate discussion, it will be a question in every interview, a talking point in every discussion. Once it happens, it will be one of the biggest UFC fights of all time.
In Makhachev, Volkanovski has found what he's truly been searching for — something he needs more than belts — and that's a true rival to drive him to the highest levels of greatness.
Dominant fighters are respected and feared but it is rivalries that makes a fighter beloved and revered.
Going through hell and coming out the other side and wearing a few bruises along the way is what takes great fighters and makes them immortal.
Muhammad Ali does not become Muhammad Ali without Joe Frazier. Khabib Nurmagomedov is not Khabib Nurmagomedov without Conor McGregor. To be a legend, you need to find your hurricane, your fire in the sun, and stare it down without blinking.
Until now, Volkanovski has not found that rival. Max Holloway is the other great fighter of this age in that division and Volkanovski has defeated him three times.
However, Makhachev is the one, the white whale Volkanovski will pursue until victory or death as he is forced to reach the outer limits of his own ability. This battle is not over by any stretch.
The lightweight belt is going back to Dagestan, but the history of Makhachev and Volkanovski is only just beginning.
