Alexander Volkanovski found himself without an opponent for a few days after Max Holloway was injured and forced to withdraw from their fight. Now, the champion is defending his belt against The Korean Zombie at UFC 273.

The fight almost didn't happen that way for a few reasons. Many were hoping Giga Chikadze would get the call even though he was set to fight at UFC Vegas 46 against Calvin Kattar.

“I was doing media this week and I don’t remember who I was talking to, but they were like ‘What about Giga,’” White said at the post-fight press conference. “Giga didn’t even fight yet! So we’re looking to put together these fights and they’re like ‘Oh the Korean Zombie got the fight, Giga should have got the fight.’ Giga’s got a fight. Tonight.”

Many were hoping Giga Chikadze would beat Calvin Kattar and still step in for the title shot. UFC President Dana White wasn't worried about any of that.

“In this sport, you never know,” White said. “You think you know but you don’t. None of us know. It’s what makes this sport so great, you never know what’s going to happen with these guys. And we gotta lock in dates for fights and Zombie is absolutely positively the guy that should have gotten to fight, so it works out the way that it should have worked out.”

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The Korean Zombie did have a shoulder injury he was worried about before the fight. His manager, Jason House confirmed that he would be good to go for UFC 273.

“The shoulder is good,” Jason House said in an interview with MMA Junkie. “We were planning on fighting in late April or early May, which was kind of what I was suggesting to the UFC beforehand. This opportunity came up and we’re ready to go. It’s just on a timeline a little earlier. Being at Fight Ready, being in Arizona, they have a great camp there, great facilities and amenities. We’ll be fully ready to go April 9.”

The injury was never going to stop the fight from happening though. Chan Sung Jung made it clear to his manager that you don't say ‘no' to the UFC when it comes to a title shot.

“Before this had happened, ‘KZ’ would always tell me, ‘You don’t turn down title shots. When they call you Jason, and I’m not available, say yes.’ He’s always been very adamant about that.”