For UFC featherweight champion Alex “The Great” Volkanovski, the world is his oyster. The former professional rugby player made a huge career shift into Mixed Martial Arts that ended up being a career decision of a lifetime. After competing for various MMA organizations, Volkanovski joined the UFC in late 2016 and won his first four fights on local events. Volkanovski then got a big step up in competition against the hard-nosed veteran Darren Elkins stateside. The result: a near flawless performance and victory for the native of Shellharbour, New South Wales in Australia. Next, was UFC 232, his first pay-per-view card. Volkanovski won that night and has never looked back, defeating the best featherweights of all-time to etch his name in the history books.
Alex “The Great” gave NBCSE’s Ike Feldman a few minutes of his time where they discussed a likely opponent for his next fight, how his rugby experience has contributed to his MMA career, his favorite steakhouse and much more!
Feldman: You were a big favorite in this fight which was your biggest favorite since the Shane Young fight. Did you feel extra pressure as such a betting favorite?
Volkanovski: I ignored it to be honest, but in saying that, I guess I showed that they weren’t wrong, right (laughter)? I lived up to that [the moneyline] by putting on a performance that I did, but you know I don’t think that’s any disrespect to Chan Sung Jung, I just think that’s where I’m at, just getting the reputation – I didn’t let it get to me though.
When I interviewed you five years ago I had to spell out your name for the audience, but now, everyone knows who you are. How does it feel to be one of, if not the alpha of the UFC? You are one of the greatest champions the sport has ever seen. You have taken out so many great fighters. Who is next? Are we going Henry Cejudo at featherweight or are we going winner of UFC 274’s lightweight title fight between Charles Oliviera vs. Justin Gaethje?
Volkanovski: That’s what we’re looking at. I think we’re looking at that lightweight title fight. We’ll obviously see what happens with that. That’s something that I want to push for you know. I think I deserve it. I haven’t asked for the opportunity to get the double-champ until now. I feel like you need to earn that opportunity and I feel like I’m in a position where I can call that. I think that’s fair and I’m thinking we can get that over the line.
Maybe your next opponent should be Bobby Flay. For those unaware, Alex is also quite proficient in the kitchen. Did your passion for cooking take-off on The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show?
Volkanovski: No, I’ve always done my cooking. Every time I’m overseas for training camps or whatever it is, whenever I’m with my training partners in the house I’m always cooking for the team. And then we always put clips on our Instagram stories and then our clips turned into reels then they ended up turning into episodes and then it went on from there. People love it. Obviously everyone loves food, I think MMA fans really appreciate food as well. Everyone loves it, man, so I’m obviously going to keep doing it.
I love that you share your world outside the octagon with your fans. Let’s go back though, to your UFC 266 title fight against Brian Ortega. I, frankly, underestimated your ground game. I was thinking ‘How is he going to survive against this jiu-jitsu phenom?’ and that was not an issue at all. Is there another weapon in your arsenal we’re yet to see?
Volkanovski: There’s always room for improvement. As I said before this most recent fight, ‘you’re going to see a better version of myself because I’m always raising the bar.’ You know I’m always going to be better, I’m always pushing myself. I got that drive to be better in all areas. So once I’m healed up and I’m back in the gym, I’m evolving. And you’ve seen me do that so there’s plenty of room for improvement. I can get even better with these defenses. I can get better with submission defenses. I can get better with submissions. I can get better in my striking, my wrestling, you name it. There’s plenty of room for improvement and again, I’m just going to raise the bar every single time.
How much could you attribute to where you’re at now in your Mixed Martial Arts career from your run as a professional rugby player for the Warilla Gorillas?
Volkanovski: Oh man, there’s a lot. Like I think my whole life you talk about sports and you talk about the way you’re brought up. All these life experiences molded me into the man I am. That durability, that heart, the discipline, the mentality I have, the resilience, all that stuff, you name it. That all comes from all these life experiences. You know obviously rugby league was a full-contact sport. You need to be durable. You need to be resilient. You need to discipline all that type of stuff. You know I always have to carry my weight. You know everyone was bigger than me so I knew I’d have to prove myself. So you know what I mean? It all adds to the story. It all adds to what I am today. So definitely there’s a lot I took out of that sport and bringing it into what you see in the octagon as of late.
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Do you know what’s going on with Corey Nelson? That is the lone loss of your career (24-1). If you see him on the street, do you want to pick a fight with him? How do you view that lone loss?
Volkanovski: As I said before, it all adds to that story. It all adds to who you are. You know there was a lot that we took out of that fight and it made me a better fighter. It made me mentally stronger so it’s all part of the story. You know I’ve actually seen him around. He’s from Sydney. I’ve even trained with him afterward, but yea man, that’s just the game. Obviously, that was very early in my career and it was at his peak, but I wanted to fight the top guys because I started this sport late and I was like ‘I need to fight these top guys so I can take their position. I want to take their rank.’ That’s just the guy I’ve always been, but yea, we’ve trained after that so it’s all good.
If we could shift gears to betting, do you bet on sports at all?
Volkanovski: Yes I do, here and there. I don’t mind slipping in a bet here and there.
What sports in particular?
Volkanovski: Usually MMA because I know a bit more about it and maybe rugby league.
You know just a little about MMA (laughter).
Volkanovski: Yes, just a little (laughter).
So if we can throw on your analyst hat, how do you see Gaethje and Oliveira going at UFC 274?
Volkanovski: Man, that’s a tough one. I believe it’s 50/50. I’d have to look at the odds, but if I’m just talking about who I think will win, I think it’s 50/50. But if I have to lean towards someone – I’d have to go with Oliveira. I just think he has a few more outs like a few more things he can do to maybe win, but I mean it’s a very, very, very, very close fight.
What fighters do you look forward to watching the most?
Volkanovski: Obviously my boy, Izzy [Adesanya]. His skillset: I love to see his movement and some of the things he’s done not many people can do. I got a real appreciation for what he’s done in the cage.
Back to food. I know you appreciate a good steak. What’s your favorite cut and what’s your favorite steakhouse?
Volkanovski: I love my scotch filet, and my favorite steakhouse is my house on my BBQ. No better steak than at my place on my BBQ.
Feldman: A three-time featherweight champion and host of “Cooking with Volk” on YouTube, Alex, I appreciate the time.
Volkanovski: I appreciate it man, love your work, cheers!
When asked about how Alex celebrated his UFC 273 main event win he said, “We went with the ‘Shoey!’”
