Top AFL star Toby Greene hits back after being challenged to a fight by Aussie UFC world champion Alexander Volkanovski

Alexander Volkanovski

Toby Greene responds to Alex Volkanovski’s cheeky UFC challenge

UFC champ issued the challenge to AFL skipper earlier in the week

GWS Giants captain Toby Greene has responded to UFC champion Alex Volkanovski’s cheeky challenge to take him on in the octagon.

The UFC featherweight champ, fresh off reclaiming his title against Diego Lopes at UFC 314, laid down the challenge to Greene this week.

‘We’re in a bit of a situation here where it’s hard to get a match-up in the featherweight division, so I’m looking for an opponent, and I’ve found someone,’ Volkanovski said Nine show Players.

‘We’ve got this tough guy Toby Greene who thinks he’s up for the challenge. I want to challenge you Toby Greene to a UFC fight.

‘I’m a Swans guy anyway!’

The Aussie MMA superstar’s comments were clearly in jest and played upon Greene’s aggressive reputation within the AFL.

Giants captain Toby Greene (pictured with wife Georgia) says he wont be fighting UFC champ Alex Volkanovski anytime soon

Volkanovski (pictured) issued the cheeky challenge to Greene earlier in the week

However, Greene says he won’t be throwing down with Volkanovski anytime soon.

‘Oh he’s too small mate, he weighs in at 65kg,’ Greene said.

‘I’d love to back myself.

‘Nah, UFC is not for me. I love watching it and the boxing, but I’m not fighting him, nup.

‘I respect what they do. It’s brutal. He’s a legend of his sport, so I won’t be fighting him.’

Earlier in the week, Volkanovski reflected on his recent victory, admitting that he hasn’t thought as lot about having the title back.

‘The whole being champion again and all that type of stuff, I guess I just – I don’t like saying it like this – [don’t] care too much about that,’ he said on The Ariel Helwani Show.

‘There’s so much more things that I sort of enjoy with what happened, right? Defying the odds and things like that – I think that stuff means more.

The Aussie UFC champ is fresh of reclaiming his featherweight title

‘Even just the support coming back, and then all the people that have been backing me from the start, and just to see the smiles on their faces for me and getting it done, just things like that mean so much more to me.’

It is unknown who Volkanovski will take on next, but the Aussie is eyeing Russian contender Movsar Evloev.

‘Straight after the fight people were mentioning Yair Rodriguez,’ said Volkanovski.

‘Obviously, all camp before the fight I’m talking about Movsar, and obviously he’s in a position where if you look at who deserves it, he’s been undefeated and who he’s fought [makes him deserve it].

‘I don’t want to be the one to turn Yair down because I like the guy, so I don’t want to rob him of an opportunity if that comes forth. So we’ll see what the UFC brings forward.

‘But again, I do like that undefeated record [of Evloev]. I’d love to take that zero, especially for legacy and where I’m at. You’re taking out an undefeated guy, that younger generation – younger than me, anyway.’