Alexander Volkanovski, a dominant figure in the UFC featherweight division, identifies a loss as his favorite fight despite his many victories. His standout moment came during a hard-fought bout against Islam Makhachev, marking a meaningful contest in his career.

Volkanovski has been a consistent champion, only briefly dethroned by Ilia Topuria last year before reclaiming the title in April at UFC 314 by defeating Diego Lopes in Miami. This victory solidified his status as a two-time champion and added to his record of impressive wins over fighters such as Max Holloway and Yair Rodriguez. However, none of these triumphs compare to his personal favorite fight.

Why Volkanovski Cherishes His Epic Bout with Islam Makhachev

In a recent interview on Out Cold with UFC icon Chuck Liddell, Volkanovski was asked to name his favorite fight of his career. Rather than highlighting one of his many championship victories, he singled out the first meeting with then-lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. That initial clash went the full five rounds in Perth and was fiercely competitive, with some observers feeling Volkanovski may have done enough to win on points.

Discussing the fight, Volkanovski reflected on the challenge it presented.

“Favorite fight I’ve ever been in…I did enjoy — obviously I lost the Islam fight, the first one, but I really enjoyed that,”

he said.

He expanded on the technical aspects of the contest, particularly in the grappling exchanges.

“I love the fact that through that fight — when it comes to scrambling, I am usually good with the takedown defense…but the fact that he was able to go all them steps with me, I found that it was a bit of a chess match.”

Continuing, he added,

“That’s something that I really appreciated. I was able to go so deep with the wrestling, grappling side of things.”

Volkanovski’s Next Challenge and UFC’s Matchmaking Decisions

Following his triumphant return to the featherweight championship this year, Volkanovski has openly shared his preferred opponent for the next fight. Rather than avoiding difficult matchups, he is eager to face undefeated contender Movsar Evloev, hoping to hand the Russian fighter his first career defeat.

Speaking to Demetrious Johnson, Volkanovski conveyed his straightforward attitude toward competition.

“I’m going off just fighting, that’s it,”

he stated, acknowledging the broader aspects that influence UFC bouts but emphasizing his readiness to face any challenger. When pressed on who excites him most, he singled out Evloev.

“But then you ask me who I would be most excited for, it probably would be Movsar in the fact that he deserves it.”

Volkanovski also pointed to the symbolism of facing an undefeated fighter.

“He’s undefeated,”

Volkanovski said,

“The last undefeated guy I lost to, so I haven’t been able to take someone’s zero yet. So there’s another reason.”

Despite Volkanovski’s preference, the UFC has not scheduled that fight. Instead, Evloev was booked to face newcomer Aaron Pico on July 26 in Abu Dhabi, a bout that could have paved the way for Evloev’s first title shot. However, Evloev was forced to withdraw due to injury, leaving Volkanovski’s first defense of his second title reign uncertain.

The Broader Implications for Featherweight Title Dynamics

Volkanovski’s openness to facing top contenders like Evloev underscores his competitive mindset and desire to solidify his legacy within the featherweight division. The pending uncertainty around his next opponent highlights the challenges in UFC matchmaking, especially when injuries intervene. Fans and analysts alike await announcements on how the division’s title picture will evolve following Volkanovski’s recent triumph in Miami.

His reflection on the memorable bout with Makhachev also offers insight into the mindset of a champion who values battles that test his skills deeply, even if the result was defeat. This outlook may influence how future fights unfold as Volkanovski continues to chase both legacy and new challenges in the UFC.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Why is Alexander Volkanovski so good?

A. Volkanovski is skilled at striking and performs well in close combat, traits typically important for shorter fighters. However, most of his victories come from fighting at a distance. He effectively hits targets from afar and uses these opportunities to move into close-range fighting.