Alexander Volkanovski, hailing from Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia, was born on September 29, 1988. He is a prominent Australian mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC. Recognized as one of the best featherweight fighters in the world right now, Volkanovski boasts a professional record of 26-2.
Volkanovski is renowned for his distinctive fighting style, characterized by amazing takedown defense and dangerous striking capabilities. Volk fans would know that ‘The Great’ did not originally intend to don the octagon.
He initiated his journey as an athlete by participating as a semi-professional rugby player with the Warilla Gorillas. It wasn’t until the age of 23 that the Australian sportsman decided to transition into the realm of professional MMA.
So his background has naturally contributed to the evolution of his unique combat approach. In the UFC, he has gotten the better of legends like Max Holloway, Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, and ‘The Korean Zombie’, among others. Volk is the UFC featherweight champion of the world right now and has only lost one fight in the world’s biggest MMA promotion. He is considered to be one of the most dominant champions in the history of the UFC.
Is Volkanovski an Australian name?
Although the UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski resides in Australia, it is to be noted that his surname is not that common in that nation. In actuality, Volkanovski is a Macedonian surname, and this, of course, makes sense as Volk’s father boasts Macedonian heritage.
Another notable personality with this surname is Ivan Volkanovski, who is a Macedonian basketball center and is currently a part of the roster of KK Rabotnički.
Where are Alexander Volkanovski’s parents from?
Alexander Volkanovski’s diverse heritage is something that he is really proud of, and rightly so. His dad, Tony Volkanovski, hails from Yugoslavia and has Macedonian roots. Meanwhile, Alexander’s mother, Mary Volkanovski, has a Greek heritage. So, taking inspiration from his lineage, Volkanovski adopted the nickname ‘The Great,’ paying homage to Alexander the Great, a tribute that reflects his affiliation to his Macedonian and Greek roots.
Lastly, there are some who feel that Volk might be a descendant of Alexander III the Great, Ruler of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia. This is, of course, just a fan theory, but one has to admit that the 35-year-old is no less than a modern-day warrior who has put up some of the best fights inside the Octagon in the recent past and is the fan favorite for that very reason.