UFC star Alex Volkanovski donates $10k to Dragons’ NRLW program

UFC champion Alex Volkanovski has a deeply personal reason for why he’s contributed $10,000 – as well as helping out with their wrestling sessions – to the Dragons’ NRLW program.

UFC champion Alex Volkanovski has made a generous $10,000 donation to St George Illawarra’s NRLW program – and part of it was for a deeply personal reason.

The 36-year-old father of four has dipped into his pockets for his local club, and will weigh in with his time too with plans to help out the Dragons wrestling program under new women’s coach Nathan Cross.

“It’s just something that I wanted to do. The sport is growing so much in this region,” Volkanovski said.

“I was talking to my physio, Mick Baines, and he was just giving me a bit more of an insight on how it is.

“If you can invest in the sport’s growth, and create more opportunities, that’s how it’s going to grow overall.

“You can see it in the soccer as well with how incredible the Matildas did and stuff like that.

“From those discussions, I thought I’d donate some money and will give my time as well with some of the wrestling as well.

UFC world champion Alexander Volkanovski has done some work with the Dragons' NRLW team during their pre-season. Picture: Instagram

“Just to get that kicking off anyway. I’m doing a little bit of that with them.

“If there’s a bit of money I can donate to help them be professional athletes, and maybe give those opportunities – whether it’s strength and conditioning, physios, doctors, whatever they need to help that process.”

Volkanovski’s support is a huge boost for the side, who have been fundraising with local businesses and supporters like through the Dragons female future fund, which has raised around $23,000 so far.

The aim of the fund is to provide more resources to the female program, which runs on minimum funding.

Money goes towards better equipment, camps, facilities, diet and nutrition support and professional development for staff.

It took years for mixed martial arts to be properly resourced, so Volkanovski knows the difficulties facing semi-professional athletes.

“I know that when I was able to go professional and go full-time, I was able to go to a whole other level,” he said.

UFC world champion Alexander Volkanovski has done some work with the Dragons' NRLW team during their pre-season. Picture: Instagram

“When I could fully commit, I went to another level. We’ve got so many great athletes, and if we want them to reach their potential, they need the opportunities.

“It was more hopefully to get the ball rolling. I’m not expecting that money to be able to fix everything, but if we can point it in the right direction, we can watch the sport grow.

“I think pound-for-pound, Australia has some of the best athletes in the world, and to be able to get all these athletes to reach their full potential would be unreal.

“The world needs to see it.”

It has a personal meaning to him too.

He has three daughters with his wife Emma – with a fourth child on the way – and took 14 months off fighting to be fully present with his family.

“With that break, and since my fight, I’ve been able to watch the girls play soccer and be able to spend a lot more time doing that. It’s been unreal,” he said.

“You’ll blow out with the talent that’s here. They’re absolute athletes.

“And you just want to know that when these girls get to an age, they can take it professionally, so if we can get the ball rolling and make sure they can make a living off it, like they deserve, then that’s incredible.”