Volkanovski has discovered his house within the UFC’s Featherweight division, the place he beat Max Holloway twice to cement himself because the champion of the division. “I remember doing that jiu-jitsu comp, I was stood on the podium and getting gold, so I was on the first podium, they’re on the second and third and they’re still taller than me. Check out behind-the-scenes footage of UFC Fight Island on Abu Dhabi before a packed summer of fights, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Download the talkSPORT app NOW – the best way to listen live, which is taking place on UFC ‘Fight Island’, Volkanovski and Holloway promises to be spectacular, UFC 251 Usman vs Masvidal: UK start time, how to watch, live stream and fight card, including Jose Aldo, Paige VanZant and Max Holloway. The epic card in two months’ time will also feature a massive fight at 145lbs, with Alexander Volkanovksi returning to action after defeating Max Holloway for the second time at UFC 251. Spread the loveWho can stop Volcanovski? As known by most fight fans, UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski used to weigh 214 pounds as a rubgy player. Důvodem ukončení slibně rozjeté zápasnické kariéry bylo milované rugby, kterému se chtěl věnovat profesionálně. Hear from Volkanovski as he ex While much of the furore and excitement will undoubtedly focus on Jorge Masvidal’s dramatic addition to the card in the main event, the sequel between Volkanovski and Holloway promises to be spectacular. “He didn’t give a f*** about how big people were. Former Warilla Gorilla teammate Ngatai Hetet told The Athletic how Volkanovski used to crumple men far bigger than him on a regular basis, including a heavy-hitter known affectionately as ‘Shrek’. Alexander Volkanovski actually has experience in both arenas. The former rugby league player just … “I would train a lot; I was training rugby league, fighting, training and then concrete [work]. Alexander Volkanovski is unbeaten since 2013 Volkanovski’s decision to start training MMA instead of rugby has truly paid of. Prior to UFC, when Aussie Volkanovski played semi-pro rugby league for the Warilla Gorillas as a rampaging prop, he weighed up to 97kg. Prior to his success in MMA, Volkanovski was a rugby player. Successful in one fight at 156, the same year he dropped to featherweight, and largely fought at 146. Volkanovski's hometown is rugby league heartland and the 31-year-old played the game for years before switching to mixed martial arts. He said: “I had four amateur fights [when playing rugby] then went pro. And even if someone twice the size of him started picking on him or tried to fight him, he would clean them up. Safety: Alexander Volkanovski. The story seems unbelievable, but the fighter posted proof recently on his social network. He decided to give up wrestling at the age of 14 and instead focused on a career in rugby league as a front rower. The Aussie brawler battered the champion's legs in Las Vegas to eliminate Holloway's elusive movement. Over the years, while he amassed a … UG, who wins Volkanovski vs. Ortega? Although Volkanovski stands on the precipice of greatness in the 145lbs division, he was around 60 pounds heavier than this during his rugby career. But for his second UFC fight, he returned to featherweight, and is 8-0 since. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. As a young man, he dreamed of playing in the National Rugby League, but Alexander Volkanovski soon found himself on the Australian martial arts scene. Later, he cut down to 145 for the sake of his career. Volkanovski attended Lake Illawarra High School throughout his teenage years and worked as a concreter Dropping 69 pounds from 214 to 145 while going from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one is not unheard of, but a professional athlete doing so has very little precedent. During his rugby days, he apparently weighed more than 210 pounds — pretty incredible considering he hit the 145-pound mark at the UFC 232 weigh ins. Alexander Volkanovski celebrates his victory over Jose Aldo at UFC 237, May 11, 2019 Buda Mendes/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images "Yeah, definitely," Volkanovski replied when asked whether he was confident that scenario would play out. In 2014, then 5-1, he dropped down to lightweight. “It’s crucial, diet – the science to it all – now it’s an absolute game-changer. Rugby Union; Golf; F1; MMA; Cricket; Tennis; VOLD IT RIGHT THERE Conor McGregor called out by UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski for clash on … However, Ortega bounced with a Unanimous Decision win over Chan Sung Jung in the main event of UFC Fight Island 6, on October 18, 2020. Alexander Volkanovski rugby. Alexander Volkanovski stands at just about 5’6 inches tall, so he is short even by featherweight standards. “I’m used to footie players, big, front-rowers, and fighting at middleweight, and all these different divisions. Both in … “Now I look at these featherweights, they’re puny compared to what I’m used to.”. For his last fight, a successful title defense rematch vs. Max Holloway at UFC 251 on July 12, 2020, on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, “The Great” hit the mandatory 145 pounds on the nose. However, he once weighed well over 220 pounds as a professional rugby player in Australia. Volkanovski was a former Greco-Roman wrestler, but transitioned to competitive rugby at an early age. Alex began training in Greco-Roman wrestling at an early age and won a national title at the age of 12. I question whether this nickel-and-dime style of fighting can keep him upright as the champ for long. He and Alex ended up having a bit of a scuffle, a bit of a fight. He is well-aware of the weight he left, making a funny joke on his IG story while talking about it. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski joined Joe Rogan on the JRE MMA Show #93. Alexander Volkanovski has come out and praised Max Holloway for his performance against Calvin Kattar. He didn’t care how big you were. What: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega Belt: Featherweight. Alexander Volkanovski’s UFC career Many … Hours after defeating former champion Max Holloway for a second time, the champ Alex Volkanovski was transferred to Abu Dhabi Airport, where he boarded a plane back … After initially taking up MMA training to maintain fitness during pre-season, the former Greco-Roman wrestler began to fall in love with the sport again and revealed on the Joe Rogan Experience how he eventually managed to go all the way to a world title. A powerful athlete with the natural frame of a bantamweight - he has made a career by defeating lightweights and featherweights, who often had superior MMA records on paper, at the time. For his last fight, a successful title defense rematch vs. Max Holloway at UFC 251 on July 12, 2020, on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, “The Great” hit the mandatory 145 pounds on the nose. “Obviously, this was at welterweight, this was very early in my career and I should not have taken that fight. Is Gina Carano going to get cancelled for this? Even now, when I train so hard, if you’re not dieting well, the weight won’t come off. He would just run the ball all day. The Schmo interviews #1 UFC Featherweight Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 245 Fight Week. He had no fear, no matter how big they were. Today we look at three names who could challenge Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Title. Many scored the fight in Max’s favour including one of the judges. Alexander Volkanovski played rugby league before switching to mixed martial arts. “Alex would just carry blokes. Ortega saw his 14 fight undefeated streak broken by Holloway in the main event of UFC 231, on December 8, 2018, in Toronto, Ontario. "Israel Adesanya, a training partner of mine, he's actually pushing for that to happen as well. Max Holloway was stunned as former Alexander Volkanovski won the featherweight title at UFC 245 Volkanovski's brute strength in the earlier stages of … To me, Volkanovski is a midrange fighter in an aggro/combo meta. And what’s the most weight you ever lost? When Joe Rogan asked if he got ill from yoyo-dieting, Volkanovski was extremely honest. He made his MMA debut in 2012 and won two local championship belts in his three first fights. To se mu však povedlo jen napůl, jelikož hrál za tým Warilla Gorillas v poloprofesionální lize South Coast Rugby League. Max Holloway was stunned as former Alexander Volkanovski won the featherweight title at UFC 245 . Alexander Volkanovski is an Aussie legend. The Australian defeated Max Holloway in convincing fashion last December to claim the world title and defends his belt against the same opponent this weekend at UFC 251. UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski used to be a 214-pound semi -professional rugby player before turning his focus to mixed … This service is provided on talkSPORT Ltd's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy Policy. He is considered one of the best mixed martial arts fighters in Australia, unbeaten over the past five years. Alexander Volkanovski is without doubt one of the finest fighters within the UFC at the moment. Alexander Volkanovski responds to criticism after win vs. Max Holloway (1:31) Alexander Volkanovski looks back at his featherweight title defense vs. … “These guys are heavyweights like Brock Lesnar. Mixedmartialarts LLC. Alexander Volkanovski Wiki Update Wiki Born and raised in Windang, Austrailia - he is an Austrailian citizen of Macedonian and Greek heritage. If he had an extra foot, he would definitely be in the [National Rugby League]. Alexander Volkanovski retained his belt against Max Holloway But it is not the first time White has called for fighters not to leave it in the judges hands. Volkanovski was born on 29 September 1988, in Shellharbour, New South Wales. His father was born in the village of Beranci in SR Macedonia, part of Yugoslavia, while his mother is from Greece. (AP: John Locher)It's the 18th straight win for the former concreter … But, you know, I took him on and I did alright, I held my own, but things didn’t go well. Today, Alexander Volkanovski is the UFC featherweight champion. The former rugby league player just defeated a UFC legend for the second time to retain his title. Event: UFC 260 Date: March 27 . But we were in a tournament and I had him first so I had the favourite straight up. The 5’6” Volkanovski weighed 210lbs when he was playing rugby and some of his early MMA fights took place at middleweight. He made his way up to a semi-professional level before leaving the sport for mixed martial arts. Showing no fear against a man who was unbeaten in 14 of his previous 15 fights, the 31-year-old wrenched the belt from Holloway in what was considered by many to be the biggest real upset on that night in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. I don’t know what I know now having dieticians, I was never doing that. Alexander Volkanvoski wants to be remembered as one of the greatest featherweight champions in UFC history, and he’s well on his way in his journey. Things get really crazy when you go back before he started MMA. Because Triple C has gone out of his way to vex “The Great”. If you wanted to have a fight, Alex would.”. Despite standing almost half a foot shorter than the Hawaiian, Volkanovski utilised his explosive speed and devastating leg kicks to neutralise the champion’s lateral movement in the octagon. “And again, it was in a division I probably should have never been in. Volkanovski's brute strength in the earlier … While the Australian now plies his trade in the UFC octagon, he started his career playing rugby. I literally ate next to nothing. Men’s featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski is coming off two straight wins over Max Holloway, but it’s not going to get any easier for the former Rugby star because he’s scheduled to take on Brian Ortega in the co-main event of UFC 260. “[His opposition was] three times bigger, and he was the best in the whole league,” said Hetet. “Yes, 100 per cent,” he replied, “staph infections all the time. “So that’s why now I fight at featherweight. In fact, the featherweight believes his time on the pitch helped make him the fighter that he is today. Aussie UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski is eyeing a future superfight with megastar Conor McGregor as he looks to cement a legacy as his division’s greatest ever fighter. Today, Alexander Volkanovski is the UFC featherweight champion. “But Alex had no fear. The predicament stems from Volkanovski's title defense in July, a split-decision win over Holloway, the man he had dethroned seven months earlier. Due to which, the reigning UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski finds himself in a feud with Cejudo. A decade ago, Volkanovski played semi-professional rugby league for the Warilla Gorillas in the South Coast Rugby League, becoming the team’s best player in 2010. Because Alex was so short, he had to jump up to try to punch him in the head. Volkanovksi began fighting in 2012, at welterweight, meaning he had to make 171 pounds. He’s waiting for his second title protection which can be coming in opposition […] You wouldn’t want to pick a fight with him, no matter how big they were. And at that point the 5′ 6″ front rower weighed 2014, higher than the light heavyweight cutoff of 205 lbs. Rugby All Sections UFC: Dana White endorses Max Holloway v Alexander Volkanovski III. However, right before coming to the UFC in 2016, he won a regional lightweight title in his home city of Wollongong, and had his big show debut at that division. Rugby teaches its players to aggressively go towards the ball and to hit the player with it if they don’t get to it first. “It went a lot better for me after that because I realised that he was too strong so I thought ‘right I have to go down, or I have to start grappling as well’. As we all know Alexander Volkanovski is coming off the back of a controversial decision win over former featherweight king Max Holloway. © 2021 All rights reserved. And when I was getting close to fights, I was eating next to nothing.”. [My first loss] that was against at the time, Corey Nelson; he was pound-for-pound number one. Six years ago, UFC featherweight Alexander Volkanovski was practically a different person. “I had to miss out on fights due to bad staph infections, MRSA, and all that type of [stuff].”. UFC supremo impressed with the Hawaiian’s performance at Yas Island. A standout rugby player for the Warilla Gorillas, Volkanovski won Man of the Match in his league's version of the Super Bowl and notched Player of the Year honors by doing—in his words—just one thing: running straight. This is the official website of Mixedmartialarts LLC. MAX HOLLOWAY was stunned as former rugby player Alexander Volkanovski ripped away the featherweight title at UFC 245. Almost 7 foot and 150 kilos. Alexander Volkanvoski wants to be remembered as one of the greatest featherweight champions in UFC history, and he’s well on his way in his journey. He would always fend a player off. He was unbelievable. But that wasn't all the Aussie had to … Commercial reproduction, distribution or transmission of any part or parts of this website or any information contained therein by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission is not permitted. “There was a guy named Shrek who was probably the biggest in the league. That is very similar to what a safety does in football, and giving Volkanovski the instincts to be a great pick … Volkanovski’s second title defense is against Brian Ortega on March 27, 2021 at UFC 260, in TBA. “Obviously dieting is absolutely key. T.J. Dillashaw looks humongous – post-USADA! The entire event, which is taking place on UFC ‘Fight Island’, is exclusively live and free to listen to on talkSPORT 2 with coverage getting under way at 1am on Sunday morning in the UK. 4. So that’s when I actually started grappling after that.”. “Starting early, I didn’t know much. The 5ft 6ins superstar was a former semi-pro forward in rugby league – a position reserved for far larger men – and was even considered one of the best in his area. Cejduo claims he has set his eyes on becoming Quadruple C. However, the former Rugby player being the confident and outspoken fighter that he is looks to be more than willing to engage with Cejudo. But for those who watched the Aussie grow up in New South Wales, ‘Volka’ was just doing what he had done throughout his entire sporting career.

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