Australian UFC star Alexander Volkanovski has no plans to ride off into the sunset just yet.
The two-time featherweight champion says he's only focused on sending a statement to rivals when he meets Diego Lopes at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena next year.
Volkanovski, 37, returns to home soil amid growing speculation the February 1 bout will be his last.
The Wollongong product returns to the octagon in his home state for the first time since 2017.
His last fight in Australia was in 2023, when he lost to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in Perth.
But Volkanovski (27-4) has rubbished retirement talk ahead of his homecoming, eyeing to go again mid-year after his Lopes meeting.
"Everyone's thinking it's my last fight, but I can tell you now that we don't have plans of me hanging up the cards," Volkanovski said.
"You never know. We are going to probably go fight by fight.
"If things go horrendous, this camp and this fight - I've got four kids to look after, maybe it could be.
"But there's definitely no plans. My plans are going out there, really send a statement.
"Take minimal damage, which is hard to do in this sport, but I believe I can do it."
Volkanovski's fight with Lopes (27-7) will come just nine months after defeating the Brazilian in April.
The 37-year-old had reclaimed the vacant UFC featherweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Lopes.
The Brazilian bounced back with victory over Jean Silva in September in Texas.
"It's pretty easy in a sense," Volkanovski said of the rematch.
"I'm expecting the exact same Diego, maybe change it a little bit.
"I'm preparing for that, preparing that he might make the right adjustments."
No.6 lightweight Dan Hooker (24-13) will fight France's Benoit St Blanc in the co-main event in Sydney.
It comes after the New Zealander's submission loss to Arman Tsarukyan last month.
"Not getting the win leaves a bad taste in your mouth," Hooker said.
"To be able to turn that around in the space of seven, eight weeks is an incredible opportunity.
"It's just the sport - UFC, MMA, you can turn things around in a single fight."
