Shellharbour’s rising UFC star Alex Volkanovski issues challenge to Chad Mendes

Volkanovski (18-1) extended his UFC winning streak to five with a unanimous decision win over veteran brawler Darren Elkins.

Volkanovski went desperately close to a promised stoppage win in round one, dropping Elkins twice with only the bell saving the American.

He dominated the following two rounds to score an impressive victory and take his overall reccord to 18-1.

Mendes, a stablemate of Elkins, also made his return from a two-year suspension for PED use with a first-round TKO win over Myles Jury at UFC Fight Night in Boise Idaho.

Volkanovski said in the post fight that he'd like to take on Mendes, possibly at UFC 226  in Adelaide in December.

Read more: Volkanovski continues push for featherweight gold at UFC 221

“I had to win, Darren should be ranked higher than 10, he should never have had to take this fight,” Volkanovski said.

“He should've been fighting a top five guy easily but what do you do? Now it's my shot, I want someone in the top five.

“Lets see how Chad Mendes does, let's headline Adelaide, come back to my turf Chad Mendes and me, main event, lets do it.”

Volkanovski doubled down on those comments in the post-fight media scrum, lighting a fuse for potential showdown in slamming Mendes for his past PED use.

“I’d like (Mendes),” he told MMAjunkie.

“He’s a big name. … he’s coming off a suspension. I don’t know the case in that situation, but I don’t like that sort of shit. He obviously got caught doing something.

“They’re the guys I want. Some of us are naturally strong. He got caught doing something, and that pisses me off. So I want him.”

Mendes was largely dismissive of the challenge post-fight but didn't  rule it out if that's what UFC match-makers put in front of him.

“That guy’s not even ranked,” Mendes said told MMAjunkie 

“That doesn’t make sense for me. He did just beat a teammate. If they put him high enough in the rankings, I’d love to knock that dude out. … It’s up to the UFC.

“That was a quick fight for me, and if they want to give me something in a few months or towards the end of the year, I think my managers are going to negotiate with them soon. We’ll see what they think. I’m game for anything.”