UFC Champion, Alex Volkanovski reveals his top 3 greatest fighters of all time.
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Initially in his career, Alex Volkanovski was unconcerned with his legacy. A 25-fight unbeaten run and a gleaming UFC title, on the other hand, may change a man’s mind. And, after everything he’s achieved, the Australian has every right to reflect on his impact on the sport and his place in the annals of MMA history. When considering his accomplishments, it’s evident that his goals have evolved in recent years.
Volkanovski says, “Just being champ isn’t enough. Yeah, I’m successful. I’m lucky to be in the position I am now, but it doesn’t end here. I’m still fighting for something. Something more. I want more than that. I want that GOAT status. GOAT of the featherweight division. Double champ status. Full stop GOAT of the UFC. It was something that I didn’t really care for before, where now I’m really coming into my own and I really want that type of legacy”.
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It would be foolish to question the Shellharbour native’s ambitions at this juncture in his career. His credentials speak for themselves, and he’s still at the top of his game at 33 years old. Today, the undisputed featherweight champion is widely regarded as not only the finest in his division, but also one of the best in the whole organisation, putting him in a class with few others. With a few more scalps, there’s no way you can talk about the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) without including his name. And as someone who feels himself to be a part of that conversation, it’s difficult not to compare oneself to the greats.
Volkanovski recognises that the previous Irish 145-pound champion and the “Notorious” must be acknowledged when looking at a career in its entirety. He says, “McGregor’s going to obviously have to be in that conversation because you talk about being successful. Does he do some silly things sometimes? Is he a role model? But at the same time, look at the legacy he’s left behind. Look at the money he’s made. He’s successful. He doesn’t even have to fight anymore. Even after this career, we fighters need to have goals, and he showed that. He’s raised the bar when you look at it that way.”
Volkanovski had high praises for GSP. Volkanovski says, “Then you’ve got guys like GSP who just did everything right. Was true to himself and then was able to still be the man. He’s still got a great legacy and he didn’t have to be someone he wasn’t. That’s something that I look up to and I think is pretty incredible. Has the game changed? Yeah, it has. Have things changed? Yeah, it has. But I mean, for him to do what he’s done and be in the position he is right now, he’s pretty incredible, and be the person he was the whole time I admire that.”
Volkanovski also had high regard for his fellow UFC champion Israel Adesanya. He says, ” It’s incredible for him to have such a vision and I’m just starting to get this vision. These are the conversations I’m starting to have now. And even before Izzy was in the UFC, the vision he had of talking about legacy and capturing moments. It took me two years of being the champ to be like, “oh, you know what? Let’s raise the bar.” Because before I was just me. I’m just a humble dude.
“So to see guys like Izzy, doing what he’s doing. Even right now being true to himself and being still the loyal man he is. Yeah, A lot of people don’t get to see that, but he’s one loyal dude. Family man. And at the same time, he’s got a lot of eyes on him and he’s doing his thing. And whether you like it or not, he’s going to do it. And the eyes are on him, so you’ve got to respect that.”
