Alexander Volkanovski completed his trilogy with Max Holloway with a dominant decision victory at UFC 276 to go 3-0 against the former champion. Now that’s he’s moved on from him as a foe, Volkanovski explained why he felt discredited and attacked from “all angles.”
“It’s been a bit of a journey this rivalry,” Volkanovski said after UFC 276. “Taking the belt, having the rematch, all that talk and all that was a bit part of my career, and it adds to the story so it’s all good, but it was hard. You know the ups and downs. It was difficult to let go of some things, but I was finally able to put the end to them and to silence many people. A lot of people that I needed silencing.
“I had to stand up for myself from all angles, and I think people can understand what I’m trying to say there. All angles.”
Volkanovski beat Holloway the first time in 2019 to become 145-pound champion, then defended his belt eight months later in a rematch in Abu Dhabi.
After UFC 276, Volkanovski revealed he wasn’t at his best the second time around due to an unexpected visit from United States Anti-Doping Agency officials hours before the fight.
“Now I can say it, because I went and done that to Max,” Volkanovski said. “That second fight with Max, when I tell you I didn’t turn up, there’s a few things that happened. It’s absurd that you don’t even know the USADA came to wake me up at 4 AM. I don’t know what happened or how it could have occurred. That’s it.
“I ended up doing silly things as well. It was silly that I thought it was funny, but then I woke up drunk. [not right either]. It was hard, it was difficult, but it wasn’t bad. I don’t make excuses. I am telling you this now, because it’s time to close everyone’s mouths. I didn’t turn up, now he’s going to believe that because of what I just did tonight. This is why I felt so confident about this. He didn’t show up. I was not there.
” I was half asleep,” Volkanovski said. “They woke us all up and said that we’re gonna test him. My coaches and managers were obviously confused. It was a strange feeling. I didn’t want to sleep. It was time to water my body. The story goes on. The story continues.
Volkanovski’s best performance against Holloway came Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena, and he made sure to get his work done before revealing the USADA situation to the public.
“Look at that [second] battle. It probably makes sense. It’s now possible for me to say it. I waited until now to tell you the full story,” Volkanovski said. Look at what I did. I forced everything. If you watch that fight, I had no reactions. I was very slow in my reaction. My reaction time was very off. Everything had to be forced. I used my head to make things happen. That’s how I like to be. Even when things were against me, I still stood my ground and forced things and made it happen. It made me stronger .”
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Should Volkanovski be in the discussion for the greatest MMA fighter of all-time after going 3-0 over Holloway?
“It is not up to you, but I believe it would be foolish of me to have you in conversation,” Volkanovski stated. Look at my resume. But, it’s not up for me. We’re doing good. It’s quite impressive. You guys, what do you think? People can be biased, I’m sure. I’ve talked about that, a lot of my speech was to stand up. Maybe some of you as well, stand up some of the haters.
” Many people wanted to see me do this. I was trying to make people forget. I don’t hold any animosity, I’m not angry, but some you needed that. Again, you can be biased if you want, but what I’m doing is pretty incredible, and for everyone watching, that’s what I mean by stand your ground. You will be attacked by anyone who can. People tried to bring me down from every angle. “Hey, look at .'”
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On a 22-fight winning streak now and victorious in five straight title defenses in the UFC, Volkanovski feels it’s time to finally get the respect he feels deserves from the fans on fight night, even if it means completing in Australia.
“I’m sick of getting booed, man,” he said with a laugh. I am a good f ******, and get booed whenever I fight in another country’s country. Everyone’s getting nice home crowd advantages when I’m the champion. I was not able to fight this trilogy on my own turf. It was neutral ground and two on his turf. Let me f****** defend my belt back home, and we’re making it happen.”
