Alexander Volkanovski: Don’t Let Your Ego Pull You Into a War

UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski has explained how and why his approach to the fight game has changed over the years.

Last weekend, Alexander Volkanovski defeated Diego Lopes to retain the UFC featherweight championship. It served as a real statement maker for ‘The Great’, and it also cemented his status as one of the best to ever do it at 145 pounds. Now, of course, the focus shifts to what’s next, which will likely be the winner of the upcoming Movsar Evloev vs Lerone Murphy bout.

While he’s had a few setbacks in his UFC career, Alexander Volkanovski is still widely considered to be one of the greatest of his generation – and if he keeps going like this, perhaps one of the best to ever do it. In order to stay at this high level, though, he’s needed to change and adapt his game to ensure he maintains his longevity.

In his post-fight press conference appearance, Alexander Volkanovski spoke in more detail about this.

Alexander Volkanovski talks about fight preparation

“This time it was about focus, take minimal damage, you know what I mean? Thirty‑seven‑year‑old me, I don’t need to be taking damage. The first fight we had, I was in a lot of pain. I wanted to have a quick turnaround and get back in there, but my body was telling me something different. So this camp, this fight, it was about being smart, being technical, showing I can dominate without putting myself through a war every time.”

“People love the brawls, and I love a good scrap, but there’s a difference between fighting with heart and fighting with ego. Earlier in my career I’d let that ego drag me into exchanges I didn’t need to be in. Now I’m showing I can control everything — the pace, the distance, the damage I take — and that’s how you stay champion for a long time.”