Alexander Volkanovski The Great

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Fighter bio

Alexander Volkanovski, nicknamed "The Great", is an Australian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter renowned for his versatility and tenacity.

Born on September 29, 1988 in Shellharbour, New South Wales, he is of Macedonian and Greek descent.

Before devoting himself fully to MMA, Volkanovski played XIII rugby at semi-professional level, which enabled him to develop exceptional physical condition and great power.

MMA career

Volkanovski began his professional MMA career in 2012.

He joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2016, where he quickly established himself as a serious contender in the featherweight division.

In December 2019, he won the featherweight title by defeating Max Holloway.

He successfully defends his title on several occasions, including against Holloway in a rematch in 2020 and against Brian Ortega in 2021.

In February 2023, at UFC 284, Volkanovski attempts to become champion in a second division by facing lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Despite a courageous performance, he loses by unanimous decision.

He then returns to his category to defend his title against Yair Rodríguez in July 2023, winning the fight by third-round TKO.

In October 2024, Volkanovski granted Makhachev a rematch at UFC 294, but suffered a first-round knockout loss.

In February 2025, he lost his featherweight title to Ilia Topuria by second-round KO.

Personal life

Alexander is married to Emma, and the couple have two daughters, Ariana and Airlie.

He is very attached to his family and regularly shares moments from his personal life on social networks.

Fighting style

Volkanovski is renowned for his versatility, combining skills in wrestling, striking and grappling.

His small stature for the featherweight class is offset by excellent distance management, speed of execution and remarkable stamina.

His rugby experience also gives him notable physical power, which he uses to dominate his opponents in hand-to-hand exchanges.

After two consecutive losses, Volkanovski is considering retirement, but expresses a desire to reclaim his title before leaving the sport.

He plans to return to UFC 314 in April 2025 to face Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title.

To prepare for this fight, he has made significant changes to his training, including improving his nutrition and eliminating alcohol from his diet.

Outside the octagon, Volkanovski is involved in community initiatives. In March 2025, he collaborated with Tyro Payments to organize an event in support of Australian small businesses, underlining his commitment to the local community.

Despite his recent setbacks, Alexander Volkanovski remains an iconic figure in MMA, determined to prove that he is still at the top of his game