Australia’s No.1 pound for pound domestic fighter is booked to defend his AFC featherweight belt against young gun Jamie Mallurkey (9-0) in Melbourne on that date and has no intention of giving up his hard-won national strap inside the cage.

It’s the same weekend that Mark ‘Super Samoan’ Hunt will headline a UFC Fight Night card in Brisbane with a bout against former heavyweight champion Frank Mir.

The clash of dates is no coincidence with the Volkanovski camp ensuring he peaks on that date should he earn his long-awaited UFC debut for the card at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

‘‘My coach planned for it to go down like that because we knew if I don't get signed, that I would at least be fight ready if I got a late call up to the UFC through injury,’’ Volkanovski said.

‘‘Without any disrespect to Jamie and the AFC, I will be training hard as ever for that fight, the UFC is and will always be my main goal so if I get the call up I'll be fight ready and eager to make a statement.’’

Should he get the attention of Dana White and the UFC, the former rugby league forward will enter the Octagon in top form having picked up the Pacific Xtreme Combat featherweight world title in Guam in December.

The fourth round submission victory over Japanese fighter Yusuke Yachi was his eighth straight win and took his overall record to 11-1 with nine stoppages inside the distance.

It’s also left him undefeated at featherweight and ranked No.1 in the weight class in the Asia-Pacific region.

It’s a resume befitting a UFC debut and, while it seems only a matter of time until he gets the call, Volkanovski is adamant he’s ready for the step up to the sport’s premier promotion in time for the Brisbane card. 

‘‘My coaches, training partners around the world and I know I'm more then ready for the UFC,’’ Volkanovski said.

‘‘When it happens expect me to rise through the rankings fairly quickly.

‘‘They definitely know who I am but nothing has been confirmed so I might have to remain patient and optimistic but I hope all the fans will keep pushing with me.’’

He’s also taken to social media to enlist the support of local MMA fans, particularly from the Illawarra, by sharing the #signvolkanovski hashtag to help get the UFC’s attention.

‘‘I believe I've done more then enough with record, my ranking and impressive stoppage wins but sometimes that's not always enough,’’ he said.

‘‘If people want to see me in the UFC jump on board my #signvolkanovski campaign. I hope to see the hashtag everywhere.’’