David Bridges
Australian UFC superstar Alexander Volkanovski is one of the biggest fan favourites in mixed martial arts. But he’s also got one mega-famous fan you might not expect: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg attended UFC Vegas 61 alongside his wife at the UFC’s Apex venue on October 1, and this year also took up jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts himself.
But Volkanovski revealed today that he knew of Zuckerberg’s interest in the sport long before his surprise appearance at the Apex this month.
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“Yeah, he’s a mate,” Volkanovski told The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. “I knew well before he made the appearance at the UFC that he’s a big fan. He loves the sport.
“I do consider him my mate. Again, he’s a cool dude, we get along. I’m actually catching up with him a bit later on in the year. But yeah, cool dude. He knows his stuff, he knows the UFC and all about it.”
Volkanovski (25-1) required thumb surgery in July after breaking his hand in a unanimous decision win over Max Holloway at UFC 276 that saw the Australian defend his featherweight title once again.
The champ revealed that Zuckerberg reached out in the aftermath of that incident.
“We sort of got started talking after the Max Holloway fight, when he found out I broke my hand. He was just like, ‘How do you get through that?’ Things like that. We were just talking about mindset and that’s sort of how it started.
“Then we caught up and that. He’s a top bloke, I’m catching up later with him. Stay tuned for that!”
Volkanovski this week revealed he will be the official back-up for this month’s UFC 280 lightweight championship fight between former champion Charles Oliveira (33-8) against Islam Makhachev (22-1).
Volkanovski, having dominated the featherweight division, has long been angling for a shot at the lightweight throne.
Assuming the UFC 280 bout goes ahead as planned between Oliveira and Makhachev, Volkanovski is hoping to face the winner for the 155-pound belt next year.
“That’s where we’re going with it,” he said.
“It depends on how things go, whether it’s going to be next, whether I’m defending the featherweight or I’m fighting lightweight. That’s sort of where we’re going to have to wait and see.
“If someone wins this and they can’t fight for too long, I’ll defend the featherweight then I’ll wait until the lightweight is ready. It definitely puts me in position to be next for the lightweight title. It’s pretty obvious and pretty clear that’s what’s happening. That’s why I’m doing this.”
Aussie on the cusp of UFC after beatdown | 00:48
Brazilian Oliveira has frequently spoken of his desire to fight on home soil, and should he win this next bout on October 22 in Abu Dhabi, he could look to fight on the UFC 283 card in Rio de Janeiro in late January 2023. Just three weeks later, however, the UFC will host a show in Perth – the first appearance since 2019.
And Volkanovski is desperate to be on that card, as the face of Australian mixed martial arts.
“Charles wants to be active … you’ve got a Rio card, whether Charles can even make that, I don’t know. An Aussie card in February, I’d love the lightweight title to be there. That’d be incredible. I definitely want to fight on that Australian card … Next week, we’ll have a clear understanding of what we’re doing.”
Given Oliveira’s desire to fight on Brazilian soil, Volkanovski might have a hard time convincing the Brazilian to delay their bout and travel down under. But the Australian isn’t too worried.
“We’ll fight on both (cards),” he joked. “We’ll fight in Brazil and Australia. Why not?”
“I don’t know exactly what’s going on with that.”
“Obviously I’d love to defend my belt or fight in Australia and the timing sort of works for that lightweight fight … I want to fight soon, I don’t want to wait.”
Choked out and foaming at the mouth! | 00:33
For now, Volkanovski says he has recovered from his hand surgery, and is focused on making weight on October 22 in case something forces Oliveira or Makhachev to pull out.
After that, the Aussie’s future will become a whole lot clearer.
As for a prediction about the lightweight title showdown?
Volk reckons ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira will regain his title – then fight him in Australia next year. “I think Charles Oliveira … That’s what I see. And that’ll be massive!”
Watch UFC280: Oliveira v Makhachev LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo, Sunday 23 October from 15am AEST. ORDER NOW >
Clara Hastings
Mason Thompson
