UFC featherweight Alex Volkanovski talks up his title bid, and is a fan of Paul Gallen
UFC star Alex Volkanovski can lay his claim to be Australia’s best fighter when he challenges for the next month featherweight title, and delivers his verdict on Paul Gallen.
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Rugby league’s best crossover fighter has no problem with the hype surrounding Paul Gallen.
“Because Gal, he can really throw ’em,” said Alex Volkanovski, the old Warilla Gorilla now gunning to become the newest face of Australia’s fight game.
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“Which isn’t to say I think all NRL players should box. But there’s no doubting that Gallen definitely goes good.
“I’ve watched a fair bit of him and rate him as a boxer.
“He isn’t the most technical, sharp fighter — that’s not his style. But he comes forward, applies plenty of pressure and shows the ticker he was famous for as a rugby league player.
“So to see people really talking up last Friday’s fight with Barry Hall, I’ve got no problem with that. I actually thought it was pretty cool.”
As for the retired NSW Origin captain stealing your mantle as rugby league’s No.1 fighter?
“You know what,” said the 31-year-old, “I hadn’t even realised you were going with that angle.
“I was never a guy who played at NRL level, so I can’t be compared with someone like Gal switching sports.
“Plus, it seems like such a long time ago that I played rugby league. But yeah, it’s also a fun part of my story.”
Particularly when you consider this rising UFC featherweight, a fella who weighs in for fights at 65.8kg, once charged the ball for Warilla as a burly, 97kg prop.
“So when I win this UFC title in December,” he grinned, “you’ll be able to show all my old playing photos — back when I was this big round ball with a massive head.
“I’m sure after winning the belt that story will get out there, which is pretty cool.”
Once a Group 7 premiership winner with the Gorillas, Volkanovski is now set to challenge Hawaiian featherweight champ Max Holloway at UFC 245 in Las Vegas on December 15.
After countryman Robert Whittaker lost the middleweight title last month, Volkanovski isn’t only the highest-ranked Australian in the UFC but a chance to become the nation’s top fighter in any discipline.
You could argue that part of the reason Gallen’s Code War against Hall attracted so many headlines is because Australian sports fans want a new face for the national fight game.
So what chance that athlete is Volkanovski?
“I’m hearing that a bit now,” said the fighter who is unbeaten in his past 17 outings, including all seven UFC appearances.
“People saying fighting needs a new face.”