This weekend, Alexander Volkanovski will seek to defend his featherweight title once more, extending his twenty-fight win streak in the process. What sets Alexander “The Great” apart from many of his peers at the top of the fight game, apart from his remarkable win streak, is the distinct lack of trash talk and chest-beating that comes with a Volkanovski fight.
Volkanovski explained his mentality to Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald. “I’m not a terminator. I’m a normal human being. Hard work got me to where I am. Everyone can do what I’ve done.
Volkanovski Explains Anti-Trash-Talk Mentality
I don’t like to disrespect anyone. Lots of people get into UFC, they want to move to America, get into a big gym, live that whole celebrity life, you know? But I’m a family man, an ordinary man. My success is for my family, my friends, my community.”
He describes his hometown of Windang, New South Wales, hours south of Sydney, as informing this mentality. “Bit like me, this place. Not much to look at.”
Volkanovski’s sporting background before he took up wrestling was in rugby league, where the diminutive fighter played prop forward. In a position that demanded him to cut down men weighing well over two hundred pounds, Volkanovski weighed an absurd 213 pounds. In order to fight, he had to cut weight drastically, eventually settling at the featherweight limit of 145. What was his concern?
“When I first started dropping weight, my biggest worry was how my smaller body would look compared to the size of my massive head.”
That dry, easy-going Australian wit has served Volkanovksi well, particularly when faced with serious opposition. In his last UFC outing, Alexander “The Great” found himself in the unenviable position of Brian Ortega’s guillotine.
“It was a nightmare, nd a lot of people in that position would panic. But I’m the type of guy who’s going to try and figure it out. I just tried to create space. Just to free my neck a little bit.
The lights were dimming. I couldn’t hear anything, and there was a moment where I literally did think of my family, and think: ‘This can’t be it! They are not taking the belt away from my family.’
I was just holding on, just waiting for him to wear out. I knew he’d have to let go, and he did. I’m not about the massive KO for victory or whatever. I’m about whatever gets me a tiny inch. Then I work on the next inch. A lot of people think I’m wasting my time with that. But I’m like, ‘Victory by inches? I’ll take it.’ ”
What do you think of Alex Volkanovksi’s approach to fighting? Let us know in the comnents.
