Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Alexander Volkanovski is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Alexander Volkanovski, known as “The Great,” stands as one of MMA’s most accomplished featherweights. His journey from rugby league fields in Australia to the UFC’s global stage is a story of grit, evolution, and family devotion. Here’s a deep dive into his life, career, and legacy as of 2025.
Alexander Volkanovski’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Alexander Volkanovski |
| Nickname | N/A |
| Date of Birth | 29 September 1988 |
| Age (as of June 2025) | 36 years |
| Birthplace | Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Lake Illawarra High School |
| College | N/A |
| Turned Pro | 2012 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $11 million |
| Salary | Per-fight purses range from $1 million to $2.4 million |
| Spouse | Emma Volkanovski |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Children | Ariana, Arlie, Reign, |
| Instagram Profile | @alexvolkanovski |
Early Career
Alexander Volkanovski’s athletic roots began in Greco-Roman wrestling, where he won national titles as a youth. By 14, he shifted focus to rugby league, excelling as a front-rower for the Warilla Gorillas. After winning the Mick Cronin Medal and a premiership, he left rugby at 23 to pursue MMA in 2011. He quickly made a name for himself in regional Australian and Asian promotions, winning titles and building a formidable reputation
Professional Career
Volkanovski turned professional in 2012, racking up wins in the Pacific Xtreme Combat and Australian Fighting Championship, where he captured multiple featherweight titles. In 2016, he debuted in the UFC with a TKO victory over Yusuke Kasuya. His relentless pace, wrestling base, and evolving striking led to a string of victories over elite opponents, including Chad Mendes, José Aldo, and Brian Ortega.
The pinnacle came in December 2019, when he defeated Max Holloway to claim the UFC Featherweight Championship—a title he defended successfully multiple times. Despite setbacks in 2023 and 2024, including losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, Volkanovski reclaimed the featherweight title in April 2025 by defeating Diego Lopes, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest featherweights in MMA history.
Wife
Alexander Volkanovski is happily married to Emma Volkanovski. The couple wed in October 2012 and are high school sweethearts. Emma, a psychology graduate and fitness enthusiast, is a constant presence at his fights and a pillar of support. They have three daughters—Ariana, Arlie, and Reign—and are expecting their fourth child in 2025. Family is central to Volkanovski’s motivation, and he often cites Emma and their children as his driving force.
Alexander Volkanovski’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Alexander Volkanovski’s estimated net worth is around $11 million. His wealth comes from UFC fight purses, performance bonuses, pay-per-view shares, sponsorships, endorsements, and business ventures. He also earns from his YouTube channel and side businesses, including Volk’s Deli and CMB Nutrition.
Fight Purses
| Opponent | Event | Date | Result | Base Salary | Win Bonus | PPV Payout | Bonus | Sponsorship | Total Earnings |
| Yusuke Kasuya | UFC Fight Night 101 | Nov 2016 | Win | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $2,500 | $22,500 |
| Darren Elkins | UFC Fight Night | Jul 2018 | Win | $60,000 | $55,000 | $0 | $0 | $4,000 | $119,000 |
| Chad Mendes | UFC 232 | Dec 2018 | Win | $65,000 | $60,000 | $0 | $50,000 | $5,000 | $180,000 |
| José Aldo | UFC 237 | May 2019 | Win | $70,000 | $65,000 | $0 | $0 | $5,000 | $140,000 |
| Max Holloway | UFC 245 | Dec 2019 | Win | $250,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $30,000 | $280,000 |
| Max Holloway | UFC 251 | Jul 2020 | Win | $350,000 | $0 | $783,333 | $0 | $40,000 | $1,173,333 |
| Brian Ortega | UFC 266 | Sep 2021 | Win | $300,000 | $0 | $400,000 | $50,000 | $42,000 | $792,000 |
| Chan Sung Jung | UFC 273 | Apr 2022 | Win | $500,000 | $500,000 | $600,000 | $70,000 | $42,000 | $1,712,000 |
| Max Holloway | UFC 276 | Jul 2022 | Win | $1,000,000 | $0 | $200,000 | $20,000 | $42,000 | $1,262,000 |
| Islam Makhachev | UFC 284 | Feb 2023 | Loss | $1,500,000 | $0 | $400,000 | $50,000 | $42,000 | $1,992,000 |
| Yair Rodríguez | UFC 290 | Jul 2023 | Win | $1,500,000 | $0 | $600,000 | $0 | $42,000 | $2,142,000 |
| Islam Makhachev | UFC 294 | Oct 2023 | Loss | $1,500,000 | $0 | $850,000 | $0 | $42,000 | $2,392,000 |
| Diego Lopes | UFC 314 | Apr 2025 | Win | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $400,000 | $50,000 | $32,000 | $2,482,000 |
Endorsements
- Athletikan
- Sports Bet
- Engage (his own apparel brand)
- CMB Nutrition
- Bangtao Muay Thai
- Volk’s Deli
Career Records
| Opponent | Event | Date | Result | Method | Rounds |
| Max Holloway | UFC 245, 251, 276 | 2019-2022 | Win (3x) | Decision | 5 |
| José Aldo | UFC 237 | May 2019 | Win | Decision | 3 |
| Chad Mendes | UFC 232 | Dec 2018 | Win | TKO | 2 |
| Brian Ortega | UFC 266 | Sep 2021 | Win | Decision | 5 |
| Yair Rodríguez | UFC 290 | Jul 2023 | Win | TKO | 3 |
| Islam Makhachev | UFC 284, 294 | 2023 | Loss (2x) | Decision/KO | 5/1 |
| Ilia Topuria | UFC 298 | Feb 2024 | Loss | KO | 2 |
| Diego Lopes | UFC 314 | Apr 2025 | Win | Decision | 5 |
FAQs
1. What is Alexander Volkanovski’s real name and nickname?
His real name is Alexander Volkanovski. His nickname is “The Great,” which is inspired by Alexander the Great. Since Volkanovski shares Macedonian and Greek heritage with the historical figure (both have a Macedonian father and Greek mother), he chose this moniker as a tribute to the ancient conqueror.
2. Where is Alexander Volkanovski from?
Alexander Volkanovski is from Shellharbour, New South Wales, Australia. He was born on September 29, 1988, to parents Tony Volkanovski (of Macedonian descent from Yugoslavia) and Mary Volkanovski (of Greek origin). He is the first Australian-born fighter to win a UFC title.
3. What is Alexander Volkanovski’s fighting record and current status?
As of February 2026, Volkanovski holds a professional MMA record of 28 wins and 4 losses. He is a two-time UFC featherweight champion and recently defended his title against Diego Lopes at UFC 325, winning by unanimous decision. He has won 13 fights by knockout and 3 by submission.
4. What are Alexander Volkanovski’s physical dimensions?
Volkanovski stands 5’6″ (167.64 cm) tall and weighs 145 pounds (65.77 kg) in the featherweight division. His reach is 71 inches (180.34 cm). He maintains an orthodox stance and has a lower center of gravity compared to many opponents, which he uses effectively to evade strikes.
5. What is Alexander Volkanovski’s fighting style?
Volkanovski uses a well-rounded blend of striking and wrestling. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and trained under City Kickboxing and Tiger Muay Thai. His striking is characterized by rapid jabs, feints, and intelligent footwork, while his wrestling enables him to control opponents and execute powerful clinch work. He excels at closing distance and trapping opponents against the cage to unleash devastating strikes.
6. When did Volkanovski win his first UFC featherweight title?
Volkanovski won his first featherweight title on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245 in Las Vegas, defeating the previously dominant Max Holloway by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 50-45, 48-47, and 48-47. This victory ended Holloway’s 14-win featherweight streak and marked Volkanovski’s rise to championship status.
7. What happened in Volkanovski’s fights against Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev?
Volkanovski suffered back-to-back knockout losses. In October 2023, he lost to Islam Makhachev via head kick knockout in the first round while attempting to claim the lightweight title. Four months later at UFC 298, Volkanovski faced Ilia Topuria for the featherweight title and was knocked out in the second round, losing his belt. Volkanovski has acknowledged that his early return after the Makhachev knockout, despite lingering concussion effects, contributed to his vulnerability against Topuria.
8. How did Volkanovski reclaim the featherweight title?
After Ilia Topuria vacated the featherweight title to move to lightweight, Volkanovski reclaimed the belt by defeating Diego Lopes at UFC 314 on April 12, 2025. He won by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45. This victory made him the first male UFC fighter to win a title over age 35 in the flyweight to lightweight divisions.
9. What is Volkanovski’s record against Max Holloway?
Volkanovski defeated Max Holloway three consecutive times across their trilogy. He first beat Holloway 50-45, 48-47, 48-47 at UFC 245 in December 2019 to claim the title. He won their second fight at UFC 251 via split decision in July 2020. In their third encounter at UFC 276 in July 2022, Volkanovski dominated with scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45. No other fighter has defeated Holloway three times.
10. What is Alexander Volkanovski’s current pound-for-pound ranking?
As of 2025, Volkanovski is ranked number 5 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings. His ranking reflects his status as one of the greatest featherweight fighters of all time. After his most recent title defense at UFC 325, he tied José Aldo’s record of eight featherweight title fight wins, cementing his legacy in the division.