Each fight is like a grand final in the rugby league." I definitely love the fact that it’s all on you, and you do what you have to do to win. So I know if I fight well, I’m going to win. If I go out there and lose, then it’s my fault. You can be playing a team sport and have a good game, and you can lose. He initially competed in multiple amateur fights in the middleweight division as he adjusted from his rugby weight before turning professional and moving down to welterweight, lightweight and ultimately the featherweight division. Volkanovski quickly became a good counter striker with a powerful overhand right as well as a fantastic offensive wrestler. However, he soon realized he had a passion for the sport and wanted to go as far as he could. Ĭoach Joe Lopez said Volkanovski started training in MMA at the age of 22 and Greco-Roman wrestling to keep fit during the rugby league off season, where he weighed 97 kg (214 lb). He claims to have watched Ultimate Fighting Championship events since childhood and would often rent UFC VHS tapes from Blockbuster as well as purchase UFC pay per views from 14 years of age. ![]() Volkanovski then decided to quit rugby league at 23 years of age to pursue a professional career in Mixed Martial Arts in the latter half of 2011. He also played a crucial role in Warilla's 2011 Premiership winning season and received the Man of the Match award for his performance in his team's Grand Final victory over Gerringong. He played semi-professional rugby league for the Warilla Gorillas in the Group 7 Rugby League where he was awarded the Mick Cronin Medal in 2010 as the league's best player. Volkanovski attended Lake Illawarra High School throughout his teenage years and worked as a concreter after graduation. He decided to give up wrestling at the age of 14 and instead focused on a career in rugby league as a front rower. Alex began training in Greco-Roman wrestling at an early age and won a national title twice at the age of 12. His father was born in the village of Beranci in SR Macedonia (now North Macedonia) while his mother is from Greece. Volkanovski was born on 29 September 1988, in Wollongong, New South Wales. ![]() As of March 7, 2023, he is #2 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. Prior to his UFC debut, Volkanovski competed as a professional boxer in 2015. He is also a former Australian Fighting Championship (AFC) Featherweight champion. He currently competes in the Featherweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Featherweight Champion. Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Joe Lopez Īlexander Volkanovski (born 29 September 1988) is an Australian mixed martial artist.
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