Alexander Volkanovski entered the story in April at the UFC 314 when he beat Diego Lopes to become the first UFC champion lighter than the Welters weight division to hold gold at 35 or over. The victory also helped him to eliminate consecutive defeats, giving Volkanovski his first victory since 2023.
Speaking on Monday “The Ariel Helwani Show” Almost a month after his moment of coronation, the double champion said that he still had not thought of putting the title back in his possession.
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“Everything is champion again and all these kinds of things, I suppose that I am not – I don't like to say it like that – (don't worry about that,” he said. “There is so much more things that I appreciate with what happened, no? Defining ratings and things like that – I think that this thing means more. Faces for me and doing it, just things like that mean that much more for me.
“We are talking about challenging the chances and all that, but I have always participated in fights and I try, even if I am not the oppressed, I find reasons to be the oppressed, if it makes sense. … I always did it, I do not know why. I suppose that I have always been things. Situation, before this fight, do not do that.”
Volkanovski, 36, did not seem to miss a beat against the Lopes despite his career layoff before the UFC 314. accompanying that the absence was a question of whether the Australian legend was down or if his losses were only the result of talented circumstances and opposition. Judging by the performance of the lopes, it was the latter.
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But of all things to celebrate, Volkanovski is the happiest to have shown that he is always one of the best after having undergone his trio of reigning combat losses against Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.
“Getting out of KO losses and things like that, it simply does not happen,” said Volkanovski about recovery of the belt at his age. “So, for me to be in this position and all these people supported me, they were worried themselves, but I felt like they were part of this trip with me.
“It is difficult to explain. Everyone has always supported me, but this time it was more than that. It was very emotionally connected. And just see the smiles on their faces when I come back, bring the belt home, to people who are close to my heart, even the supporters (I was incredible).
Since the first Volkanovski fight in Makhachev in early 2023, when he tried without success to become champion with two divisions, he was opened on mental health and the difficulties he fought throughout his collapse at the end of his career. After his victory at UFC 314, he offered an inspiring moment by saying to fans in a memorable way in his post-combat interview that “adversity is a privilege”.
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As notable as the line was after a while, it was not planned. Volkanovski only realized that it was something that floated in his subconscious throughout his trip.
“The most proud thing I am is probably to come back from the two ko,” said Volkanovski. “The curse of 35 years and all this type of thing is just a number. I always said that I was different. I don't care, people can (say) whatever. But the two losses with direct elimination, it is something that, scientifically, can be proven – that it is difficult to withdraw from that.
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“I am good enough not to let him break, but at the same time, it is always a thought that is there so that I also pass this adversity. Even just staying confident. Even when confidence was not there, stay just on the way and do what you had to do. Even when things told you, like,” Oh, it's not going well. “And just do what you had to do anyway.
While Volkanovski achieved a complete performance his last outing, there were still fears in mid-combat. However, he appreciated the obstacles and was happy to have been tested for such a degree.
Alexander Volkanovski has shown that there are still a lot of tires on his tires against Diego Lopes. (Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC)
(Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)
Lopes overturns him in Tour 2, in particular, is a moment that Volkanovski is happy. With all the questions about the question of whether his chin can still hold on, surviving the lopes to the power helped him realize that he always has sustainability on his side.
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As for the rest, the best pretenders to the featherweight of the UFC all expressed their desire to take the double champion. Whether it is the former enemy of Volkanovski, Rodriguez who obtains this call, or the Movsar Evloev in full explosion and undefeated, Volkanovski is open in the direction of the UFC.
But after having already beaten Rodriguez in 2023, the most important target in Volkanovski is Evloev.
“I will certainly go this year,” said Volkanovski. “As I said, I wanted to try to come back directly in it (after the UFC 314), but (it is) simply not allowed, so it will have to wait a little.
“Right after the fight, people mentioned Yair Rodriguez. Obviously, all camp before the fight, I speak of Movsar, and obviously he is in a position where if you are looking at who deserves it, he was undefeated and who he fought (the facts him).
“I do not want to be the only one to fall to Yair because I like the guy, so I don't want to steal an opportunity if it arises. So, we will see what the UFC is advancing. But again, I like this undefeated record (from Evloev). I would love to take this young generation – younger than me than me.”
