At UFC 314, Alexander Volkanovski reignited the excitement of fight fans by defeating Diego Lopes to reclaim the featherweight championship. This victory came after consecutive defeats against Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, marking a notable comeback for the Australian fighter. Dana White, the president of the UFC, rewarded Volkanovski’s effort with a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus, highlighting the significance of his win. Despite this success, Volkanovski’s victory stirred concern among his wife and children, who urged him to retire from the sport.
Volkanovski, known as ‘The Great,’ is 36 years old and has endured a demanding career marked by highs and lows. His family’s concern stems from the wear and tear of his fighting years, especially given that he had been on an impressive 22-fight winning streak before his loss to Makhachev at UFC 284.
Inside Volkanovski’s Reflections on Retirement
In a recent discussion with Demetrious Johnson on the ‘Mighty Cast,’ Volkanovski revealed how his family reacted right after his UFC 314 victory:
“Straight after the fight [at UFC 314], my whole family was like, ‘Why didn’t you put the gloves down in the middle of the Octagon right away?’ They all wanted me to retire.” —Alexander Volkanovski, Featherweight Champion
Volkanovski openly grappled with the question of how much longer he intended to compete in mixed martial arts. When asked by Johnson about his future in the sport, he said:
“It’s a hard one to talk about, right? I had the two losses, and then I had the [resurgence]. I ain’t looking to do a resurgence ever again. So, if I’m hanging around, it’s because I’m winning. I’m keeping them good paychecks. But I mean, even then, it’s just like, there’s a limit. I know it’s not too far away. I’ll leave it at that.” —Alexander Volkanovski, Featherweight Champion
While not confirming a retirement date, these remarks signal that Volkanovski recognizes his career is approaching its conclusion, although he remains unwilling to step away unless he continues to win.
The Next Chapter Beyond the Octagon
Amid talk of retirement, many have begun to speculate about Volkanovski’s plans after fighting. Beyond the cage, he has cultivated a passionate interest in cooking, frequently sharing grilled and baked recipes on social media. This hobby has even drawn attention from other fighters such as Israel Adesanya, who have appeared in his cooking videos.
Mike Perry weighed in on Volkanovski’s future outside of fighting during the Overdogs Podcast, suggesting that culinary ventures might be an ideal path for him:
“You had some big ups and some hard downs in this sport, and then you won the title again. I’ve been wanting to say—just leave, because you are on top, man. You did it. You went away, you came back, you did it again, and you could just—everyone wants a cookbook.” —Mike Perry, UFC Fighter
Elaborating, Perry suggested that even an electronic cookbook would attract fans eager to learn from Volkanovski’s culinary expertise:
“You could just grill out in Australia and enjoy, ride off into the sunset. Brother, you did it.” —Mike Perry, UFC Fighter
This advice echoes what many fans and observers feel—that Volkanovski has already accomplished enough inside the octagon to consider a peaceful transition to life beyond fighting.
Volkanovski’s Current Stance on Continuing to Compete
Despite external pressures and family wishes, Volkanovski made clear that he is not ready to quit immediately. Addressing questions about his longevity in the sport, he explained:
“Yeah man, look, I’m hearing you and it’s you know, I’d be lying to myself if I said I’m going to fight for another ten years, you know what I mean? Like, it’s obviously—we know that it’s not too far away. But I mean, for me, it’s like—I’m set.” —Alexander Volkanovski, Featherweight Champion
He went on to emphasize that his current position allows him comfort and security, but he still believes he has some fights left when he said:
“Like, it’s not like I need to… You know, I’m in a great position, and I’m blessed to be in this position. But at the same time, as I said earlier, you know what I mean? Like, there ain’t… There ain’t— I still know I got some fight left in me.” —Alexander Volkanovski, Featherweight Champion
His comments underline a fighter who is keenly aware of his physical limits but continues to pursue competition as long as he can perform at a winning level.
Future Fights and the Inevitable Retirement
Volkanovski’s determination to defend his featherweight title remains strong, with speculation linking him to a possible bout against Yair Rodriguez next. The champion‘s focus on continuing to fight suggests he wants to maintain his legacy rather than relinquish his belt without a fight.
Nevertheless, the combination of his age, recent setbacks, and family’s wishes indicate retirement is on the horizon. Volkanovski’s career path exemplifies the challenge fighters face balancing their passion and physical limits as they near the end of their time in the UFC.