Supposedly, the belt goes on the right shoulder with the U on top.
There’s a lot to take in after becoming the first Australian-born UFC champion, like how to sport the UFC belt in public, but newly-minted featherweight Alexander Volkanovski is taking it all in his stride.
Fresh off a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 50-45) win over former 145lb king Max Holloway, Volkanovski arrived back in Sydney on Tuesday as the first Australian-born UFC champion and with one important thing on his mind: Christmas food.
“That’s all I’m thinking about right now,” he told Sporting News.
One thing the 31-year-old won’t need to learn is how to be a champion. Champions beat the best – and they defend their crown.
“I’m not a cocky type of person, but I’m confident,” he said. “I said that this was going to happen and I’ve gone out there and done that. I’ve taken down two of the featherweight GOATs – there’s always talks about who is the greatest featherweight – and I took them both out.
“That’s saying that I’m well on my way to being one of the GOATs myself.”
His reasoning makes sense: he’s now in an elite company of two to take down Jose Aldo and Max Holloway.
The other? One Conor McGregor.
Volkanovski isn’t planning on moving up divisions, like McGregor successfully did and Holloway attempted to do. There’ll be no featherweight logjam.
“I’d be lying if I said that’s [moving up a division] not an option, but at the same time featherweight is my division and I need to take out the guys in that division,” he said. “If people want to throw money fights at me and serious money, I’m going to take it.”
“I reckon I’ll be the GOAT of my division very soon and to do that I need to defend my belt. You’ve got guys like [UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion] Henry Cejudo, who hasn’t defended, Conor McGregor did that; I don’t want to be like that.
“I’ll defend my belt. If something comes along I’ll do that and then I’ll defend my belt again. I like to stay busy.”
UFC 245: Dana White keen on Alexander Volkanovski defending his title in Australia
18 in a row. Chad Mendes. Jose Aldo. Now Max Holloway. The former 97kg Group 7 prop is on the right path to being in the conversation for the best of the best.
“Beating Max probably helps me skip a few fights. Give me a few more fights and people will start throwing my name around there as a pound-for-pound contender.
“I’ve never been the type to be all, ‘I’m doing this for my legacy’ and all that, but it’s happening. I need to win, I need to win for family but I’m building a legacy while doing that as well.”
While he won’t be shaking any hands in the near future – his right hand is busted enough to make holding the title belt on his shoulder right at the limit of its current capabilities – there are plenty of fans lining up to congratulate the 31-year-old.
And ask if he’ll run it back with Holloway.
“I haven’t had much time to think about it,” Volkanovski said. "People are going to throw Max’s name out there but a lot of people are saying it was a bit of a whitewash. Does he deserve a rematch? We don’t know. I’m game to fight whoever. At the same time, fighting at home would be very good.”
"If he deserves that rematch then I’m going to do it. I said I’ll be a great champion."
For now, though, it’s Christmas food and delivering a special present to his family. “I said I was going to bring an early Christmas present back to the family; I got to do that.”
