Now two-time UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to be as active as possible during his second run as UFC champ.
Volkanovski (27-4) defeated Diego Lopes at UFC 314 on Saturday night to regain the title he lost just last year. The victory adds to the Aussie’s legacy becoming the first fighter over 35-years-old to become UFC champion.
“I’m looking forward to watching back the fight. I got to just go through the phone and see fight of the night. Everyone’s pretty impressed with it. I felt like I could have done more out there, so I’m always my hardest critic, but everyone seems to be pretty happy,” Volkanovski told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“Pretty cool man. To come back. It’s pretty crazy. It just hasn’t properly set in yet.”
The bit of history he made at UFC 314 wasn’t the main focus. Getting the title back was the goal, but for a slightly different reason that the family man revealed.
“Before I went out I was saying like I promised, you know I do my walk around the mat while I’m warming up, and I always say ‘there’s no way they’re taking this away from my family.’ This is what I would say when I had the belt,” he said.
“I sort of said that at the start today. While I was walking around I was like I promised my girls I’ll bring the belt back. Then I’m like it’s not about bringing the belt back. It’s about overcoming this adversity. These two losses. The break I had.”
Volkanovski came into the fight with two consecutive losses looming over his head. The champ heard many people speak on whether or not he still had what it takes to win a title.
“You know a lot of people are going to think I’m done. You’re 36-years-old. That is more important. Showing my kids what you could be capable of when people are counting you out,” he said.
“I said to you all week. Everyone has every right to count me out. Coming off two losses, big break, 36-years-old. Young hungry dangerous guy. Hopefully I changed your mind. I think there’s more of a message in all of that than just taking the belt back for the family.”
There were two other rather important featherweight fights on the card, but one in particular has Volkanovski’s eye. Yair Rodriguez scored a decision victory over former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull earlier in the night. Rodriguez called for a rematch with Volkanovski following his win.
“Yair looked great. He was saying get the title shot. Look he’s a good dude. I like him a lot. If the UFC want to give it to him I ain’t gonna stop that for him. I’ll be honest before that fight I didn’t think if he won he’d be getting the shot. Now that he’s calling I’m not going to be the one to say no,” he said.
“I’m going to leave everything to the UFC. Obviously you’ve got guys like Movsar (Evloev) who’s undefeated, I’d love to take that zero, we’ve got to see what the UFC say.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Alexander Volkanovski above.
