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Alexander Volkanovski, Ilia Topuria's opponent this weekend at the Ultimate Fighting Championship's big event, is much more than an MMA fighter. The Spanish-Georgian's challenge this week is one of the biggest of his career: by many, Volkanovski is considered the best fighter in the featherweight division and his new mission will be to end Topuria's undefeated streak.
Volkanovski was also a successful rugby player
Volkanovski grew up a true warrior. At a very early age he started practicing Greco-Roman wrestling. At the age of 12 he won his first title and it was clear that he was born to do it. However, when he turned 14 he put wrestling aside and his life took another path: he began to dedicate himself to another sport, rugby. He played for the Illawarra Warilla Gorillas, a team in which he became a professional and won important titles in Australia.
His career in the UFC
At the age of 22, he quit rugby to return to fighting. Despite his height (1.68 m), he weighed 97 kg. He had to lose weight to achieve the goal of dedicating himself to mixed martial arts. In May 2012 he made his professional debut at the age of 23 and began competing in the Welterweight category (71-77 kg), and gradually became a featherweight. Today he weighs in at 65 kg.
For four years he won several titles in Australia and made a name for himself internationally with 13 wins and one loss, until g for the UFC in 2016. In 2018, after four fights in Oceania, Dana White's company took him to the United States, where he proved his true level. As of today, Volkanovski is the champion of the Featherweight category and is the third in the Pound-for-Pound rankings. He has a record of 26 wins and three losses to his name.
Family man
Alexander Volkanovski is one of the most popular wrestlers. A man capable of taking on anyone who wants to challenge him. Yet, when he takes off the gloves, he is a totally different individual. He has two daughters (Ariana and Airlie) and cares as much about his fatherhood as he does about his profession. More than once, in several interviews he has itted that he always wanted children and that he is a very family oriented person.
Why do they call Volkanovski 'The Great'?
Many also know him by his nickname 'The Great'. Born to a North Macedonian father and a Greek mother, the athlete has the same name as the ancient Greek Macedonian king, as the great conqueror was also the son of parents from the ancient Greek region of Macedonia, not to be confused with the modern day state of North Macedonia.