Rise of Alex Volkanovski: Australia's UFC Champion | Straight Talk Podcast | Mark Bouris

The highly anticipated showdown between Australia's UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski and lightweight contender Islam Makhachev in Perth in February 2023 has become one of the sport's greatest fights.
Volkanovski is known for his powerful striking and elite grappling skills. While he couldn't protect his belt, he remains pound-for-pound the best in the world.
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Executive Producer: Jess Smalley
Filmed: Simon McDermott, Jonathan Liondis & Dimitri Gremos

[@tysoncrawford2217]

Volk is the type of guy that gives his best interview to a KZbin channel with 12k subscribers. This channel is gonna get a good bump from the champ

[@paulstubbs5774]

he is an aussie national treasure

[@MrBeetsGaming]

Never heard of this channel before now but this guy is a great interviewer, he asked a ton of really good questions.

[@meme1886]

Bruh after the presser I shouted out at a pub 'lets go Mrs Volk' as your wife was leaving. Everyone in her crew had a giggle. No-one else knew royalty was in the house. Thanks Volk and Emma 🙏

[@lioncvet21]

Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski - a true, man's man. Wonderful interview gentlemen. Thank you very much for the amazing content Mark, you are spoiling us with some great interviews lately! Please try and keep it up without burning out because you are wonderful to listen to and the questions you ask are very introspective and refreshing to hear. Thank you again for this!

[@luigichicolino6212]

No one could survive, a full fight, with islam but volk, not only survive , but make a close fight. Volk is a goat.

[@ziongite]

I am Australian also, and I am proud of both Alex and Whittaker, I think both are great representations of Australia and of being down to earth and decent guys.

[@CoolAdam247]

Awesome episode, fantastic production. Liked and subscribed. 😎👍

[@Stompcunts]

Legend! Great Pod

[@athletesnutrition]

Great conversation 👌🏼👌🏼

[@daaaan1976]

Volk is an Aussie legend!!!

[@Dan-hn1lx]

Some people are just next level workers and performers and the Volk is epitome of hard work and dedication to the craft.

[@petersmith5915]

Very good interview, exactly how a champ like volk deserves imo.

[@paulvk2539]

Humble and Great - Aussie superstar

[@lucastaylor6698]

Legend

[@fw4483]

Bro that picture of Volk in the thumbnail is not fair at all !! Look how good my man looks in the podcast could’ve used a better one from there hahaha

[@darrenwerner6296]

2 Legends. P4P one of the best pods in Oz.

[@ortensfavorit5975]

Wholesome interview

[@danewilliams8890]

I love how “our” fighters are good men. Volk and Rob do us proud. Great at there craft, but better men.

[@mental-qd5lh]

Another great pod cast

[@DOOMMAKEDONIA]

THE GREAT ALEXANDER 👑🐐🇦🇺🇲🇰

[@markdavis8430]

Never been a human alive thats more inspiring to me that VOLK!

[@aussiebattler9393]

What a great guest 👌

[@timurjack8773]

It was a good fight between Makhachev vs Volk, but its a clear 48-47 win via 1st, 2nd and 4th rounds, even the 3rd round could be scored for Makhachev.

[@0warami_7oo]

yes that's right 49-46 is BS

[@virtualwanderer]

I agree. Close fight, but Makhachev definitely won that. Volk done an amazing job regardless and was a performance to be proud of. I hope they do a rematch soon while Volk is still in his prime. Inshallah they both stay in good health!

[@dionrinaldo9668]

Round 2 can be scored for volk if you read the scoring criteria because of the knockdown

[@timurjack8773]

@@dionrinaldo9668 there was no knockdown in the 2nd round or in 3rd round, Makhachev went for a takedown that looked like a knockdown but it wasn't a knockdown if you watch it again you can see, in the 3rd round he slip as well no knockdown, effective striking is the criteria, Makhachev landed 19 strikes and Volk landed 19 strikes, but Makhachev is more accurate with his strikes and he landed 12 strike to head, while Volk landed only 8 strike to head, thats the difference, plus Makhachev also scored a takedown so its clear that he won the 2nd round.

[@coryspann5774]

I agree with that

[@josepharmand6117]

You NEVER want to go into a fight with Volk hoping to out-last him, to out-guts him, to out-heart him, to out-gas him, to break him, to be in better nick going into that final round...it ain't happening.

[@robertkotevski9649]

Very underrated channel,

[@MarkMarxonsBassChannel]

Champ Champ 🐐

[@SolvingTheMoneyProblem]

Champion mindset.

[@lovedbygod1855]

I love you Volky! Followed you since you started. ♥️💋

[@dlopzz5225]

I was thinking that in this day and age being a fighter is like the coolest thing on earth idk you go out there and fight another human like a gladiator shit is actually crazy

[@trendology9501]

What made Islam and Volk greatest fighters in recent times is not about their body strength or skills but their fight IQ. Their fight IQ is way above all other UFC fighters.

[@fatpizza482]

Volk can relate to the average man. The underdog.

[@lurk7411]

A real Champ👊

[@Hito856]

What an amazing representation of what a multicultural Australia can produce. Let’s go champ. Great interview.

[@vmro9446]

Mate why you bringing politics into this

[@0warami_7oo]

good podcast legends

[@accountmanager7117]

Hi team from 57 mins onwards the screen is black

[@bottytoohotty]

boss move

[@jessicasmalley638]

Thanks dude

[@moea2565]

Much respect to you … U said the title was on the line and #1 spot also on the line … keep your word if ur a true warrior … warriors respect winning or losing

[@0warami_7oo]

oh yeah right, makes sense 😏

[@hunterhunter5998]

keeping his word means what? the p4p ranking is not up to the fighters

[@kyyy8821]

its not his choice

[@moea2565]

@@hunterhunter5998 ok …so he has nothing to lose … sounds boring to me let’s be real over here

[@hunterhunter5998]

@@moea2565 who cares if you thinks it's boring? Volk and Islam have no say in the rankings except by how they perform in the cage and Islam's performance didn't convince enough people on the ranking committee

[@dandan1203]

Goat

[@vmro9446]

ALEXANDER “MAKEDON” VOLKANOVSKI 👑🐐

[@inalaboyy]

Screen is black after 57minutes

[@1994mrmysteryman]

Please correct the description. It reads "While he couldn't protect his belt..." Volk's featherweight belt was not on the line. They were both competing for Islam's lightweight belt. Islam retained his belt. While Volk retained his P4P number 1 status.

[@lkfishing192]

Should get all pubs CCTV around Oz of that 5th round and do a highlights real was absolutely going off where I was - bring on the rematch👊

[@triocha233]

Jiu Jitsu is very big in Melbourne ✌🏼

[@ulyssesshubeilat]

Volk is one of my favourite fighters of all time. I remember seeing him in Vegas after beating Max for the first time and he was kind enough to stop for a photo and joke around. I wish his camp didn't make the IV accusations because it made them look salty and deep down, I don't think Volk feels that way! Or at least they could have produced some evidence instead of hearsay!

[@KyeASPIRE]

Just to clarify, his camp hasn’t made any accusations. There’s been nothing officially raised by his boys to any commission or UFC officials. Just some emotionally fueled social media posts post fight.

[@KyeASPIRE]

All love mate 🙏🏽

[@peterbalac1915]

​@@KyeASPIRE Quality reply Respect bud👏👏🤙

[@ulyssesshubeilat]

@@KyeASPIRE His main coach Joe Lopez did say there were IVs involved on a podcast with John Koo. I'm pretty sure Hooker was a bit tipsy when he was tweeting, and it kinda made sense because Islam made easy work out of him, unlike Volk who proved to be a different animal altogether.

[@ulyssesshubeilat]

And yes, nothing but hespect!

[@luigichicolino6212]

Good job volk, we love you in united states.

[@onlycryptofans]

Volkanovski you rippa!

[@eligrxnd]

Update the description. "while he couldn't protect his belt" is wrong. Not even gonna say what to change it to lol

[@MarkMarxonsBassChannel]

💯

[@ilovechrist914]

Love volk his the man

[@dangerdjk]

L E G E N D protect volk at all costs. Family man, fighter...inspiration

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

Alex "The lightweight on the line p4p no 1 on the loin les do it" Saltynoski

[@jimmybooki4281]

Volk or Islam do not make that decision.Its out of there hands.IF Volk had a strap for P4P he would hand it over.

[@jimmybooki4281]

​@@vmro9446 sounds like a Paki to me.

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

@@vmro9446 but still the UFC bought the idea so much so that in octagon interview and post fight the interviewers called him the new p4p no.1

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

@@jimmybooki4281 but volk said nothing about him maintaining the spot after all he said it's on the line and he lost the fight

[@vmro9446]

@@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185 shows you how silly most people working there really are doesn’t it especially Bisping

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

Had colby or conor are to beat p4p 3 and p4p 1 in a span (even splitdecision) of 4 months is enough for everyone to not mind to have them no 1 spot

[@dazta6738]

Good TV No robots! 😆

[@zezeti2246]

I don't think Alex will have time in the near future for a rematch,Yair,Allen,Topuria,Evloev are all Gona want a shot at the crown

[@0warami_7oo]

volk should fight all at once - would a be fair match up

[@jarabotelho5275]

Volk!!!!!

[@h4b2_k66]

34:00 Alex have some honour, Islam came to your country to fight for P4P, didnt get it yess but stop making excuses for yourself. You shouldnt get a Rematch! "Light weight on the line… Pound for Pound on the line" no honour whatsoever then made excuses and a false accusation. There are fighters at light weight that deserve title shot.

[@Khushalsoni09]

W CHAMP

[@toomuchmuff]

Alexander " all that type of stuff" volkanovski

[@ADEOLADEEBO]

Proper hard bastard. He really is the great Ange Postecoglou still my number 1 Aussie tho 🍀🍀🍀💚 Sorry Volk

[@DOOMMAKEDONIA]

Lol who ?

[@sherifnabil50]

He fought a dehydrated Islam. Sorry Volk you can't claim to be competitive with him if he's a half way dead.

[@Morten465]

If he's “half way dead” making weight then he shouldn't be in the weight class.

[@bboybreezi2417]

Thats his own fault lol Volk gave up 10lbs to Islam and smashed him in RD 5. Few more seconds and islam was done.

[@jimmybooki4281]

Who's fault is that? Should've done his whole prep & cut in Aust, They are the masters of there own domain. Must've been his 1st weight cut. Get your hand off your d**k.

[@doctorcrab4481]

Casual logic. Get off Islam's nuts.

[@sherifnabil50]

@@Morten465 you don't understand anything. First of all Islam won despite being dehydrated. You need to get over that. Second, Volk cuts the same amount to make 145 but he also needs 36 hours recovery or else he'll be dehydrated. If Volk was given 24 hours recovery only he wouldn't be able to fight at featherweight. He would lose all his fights guaranteeed. Under 24 hours recovery, Islam and Volk weighed the same inside the cage. The only difference being Volk was hydrated and Islam wasn't. But Islam still won. Volk should be embarrassed. Islam weighed same as him, dehydrated, and still kicked his ass. When you realize this, youll feel pathetic for clapping for Volk. So if they're gonna change

[@mohdnasir-wr5lb]

Whatever it is Islam defeat volk... That's the reality and facts... Now shorty is alexander the excuses..A lot of IF's and But's...Be a real gentleman as before the fight you says both title and belt on the line... shorty should at least man enough to gives the p4p title to Islam...even though UFC stupid decision...Simply shorty lost and don't be a salty losers... period

[@0warami_7oo]

islam should be fair and say volk keeps that title he earned it

[@mohdnasir-wr5lb]

@@0warami_7oo Both the belt and the p4p title on the line...What if volk win does he not have the belt either... Simply it's just facts... whoever wins keep what is promise before the fight...The decision is not a robbery but the P4P title is clearly a daylight robbery... period

[@virtualwanderer]

​@@0warami_7oo Why should he? To be charitable? Volk doesn't need Charity from another fighter. That would be insulting to someone who's a UFC elite. Islam has every right to demand it, unless Volk's word has no value, in which case we can dismiss anything Volk says in the future. However I don't think anyone wants that, including me. Volk is a likable and respectable person. I hope he remembers that Islam was never treated fairly by the UFC and that they trashed his P4P title.

[@zezeti2246]

No hate towards Islam,but he's no Khabib,and as we all predicted,without Khabib in his corner to scream to him what to do he's not that great of a wrestler

[@reemraw9956]

He’s no Khabib, but has the exact belt Khabib wore…He’s no Khabib but just accomplished something Khabib nor any other UFC fighter ever has…I think being Islam is working out just fine.

[@sean7025]

Alex Volkanovski is more Russian than Islam Makhachev

[@vmro9446]

😄😄 how’s that ?

[@coasteyscoasteys4150]

Sean He's definitely rushing when fighting

[@coasteyscoasteys4150]

All good seano

[@mazarrazzaq1967]

He lost clearly accept that best way .

[@sstech5410]

19 of the 24 media score cards chose islam. 3 ring side judges chose Islam. Total strikes per round favoured islam. Take downs favoured islam. Control time favoured islam. Most high level analysts picked Islam especially after watching the fight. Volk did well, but islam done so much better. Volks size was the sole reason he didn’t get submitted. Volk couldn’t do what he usually does and Islam couldn’t do what he usually does. 5th round islam was winning the round till he went for a lazy take down and go dropped. Love volk he did great, but give credit where credit is due. Islam won that fight comfortably. Anyone who would believe a RUSSIAN is gonna have any bias in his favour is out right stupid, especially fighting in Australia against an Australian. Not only Russian but a Russian Muslim lol ain’t winning a decision if it wasn’t clear he won.

[@kylez33]

He didn't win that fight comfortably. It was an extremely competitive fight - nearly every round was a chess match apart from Round 5. You can have Islam winning the fight - that's fair - but stop with the false narratives. Also total strikes and significant strikes favoured Volk.

[@peterbalac1915]

Well I knew it was coming talk about save the best till last, Russian Muslim, you seem like a very weak nation UKRAINE? And as far as religion goes if it's so great why do you constantly pull the card? Who cares NO BODY you don't hear other religions saying its because we're catholic, ect I often wondered why Salman Rushdie is now an Atheist.

[@sstech5410]

@@kylez33 which part of my comment was false narrative?? Call me out on it, mmadecisions shows that 19 of 24 media judges scored it for islam. Show me ??

[@virtualwanderer]

​@@kylez33 sure I don't think anyone would call it comfortable. Volk deserves immense respect in the ring, and he showed why. However Islam's win was decisive. He was getting the better of Volk in nearly every aspect. I think because he didn't ragdoll Volk (for good reason) it somehow made it worth less. However, takedowns are takedowns, back control is back control and hard knees are had knees. On the feet, in the clinch, on the ground, Makhachev was doing more. He was doing this to the P4P #1. Islam needs the respect he deserves.

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

If volk hand was raised that night nobody would've called for rematch no matter how close the fight was

[@leeroy1050]

You right. Because islam lost to the smaller guy and wouldn't have deserved it

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

@@leeroy1050 exactly and before you guys were saying volk was rugby weighed 220 lbs and fought at WW and LW before and now that he lost, you're playing the he was smaller guy card😭🤣as if it was fight between volk and Ngannou

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

@My opinion is better than yours 😂🤣and we thought volk was p4p if Islam was supposed to even ragdoll him then why do they even fight then, Islam should default be p4p since you believed he was going to beat him even before fighting 🤣 You guys just never believed volk is true good fighter even after beating max 3 times its only now that he was able to lose to mackachev but atleast trying that you're given gim this credit. By the way volk wasn't the first guy to move up and fight champ, others did and put masterclass against the heavier guy. That's proving their worth 🤣but here we're you guys are celebrating volks lose as if he was a cab driver who never knew what fighting is all about.

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

@My opinion is better than yours 😂and yours in the whole universe rn huh?

[@izharulhaqtruthrevealed1185]

@My opinion is better than yours khabib dominance yeah, atleast I got a reason for watching and some were pulled by conors mouth everyone has a first reason that brought them into the sport, so

[@TransitionedToAShark]

Good job Alex. Fight islam again coz yair is nastyyyyyyyy

[@brianwise851]

💃 'promosm'

[@wsupbossph2367]

He wants to fight but when he lose, he also cry like a baby nonstop 🤣😂🤣

[@Higgsy284]

Go get a wife or something you ding, pushing 60 commenting hate on youtube videos

[@Leg3ndKilla687]

Jeez get over it. You lost. It’s what happens when two too guys fight in the sport. A close fight. It wa a best case scenario for both honestly. Even tho islam gained NOTHING from it other than 5 round experience Can’t win them all , it’s all good and shut until the L and then the real comes out. What do you do next. ? Whatever tf ufc tells you to do.

[@MArzzzKronik]

Makhachev didn't make weight and Volk won the fight

[@Naksu..]

he did make the weight... and won that fight... cry boiii..... scream like Dan Hooker when he fought Makhachev...

[@virtualwanderer]

Wishful thinking. Maybe in another universe. Anyways respect Volks performance and his admit of defeat. You're not helping Volks image.

[@fjcc9]

He talks like he won the fight 😂

[@hashmatsadeq4795]

No doubt he is a god and strong fighter but he has beaten by Islam at the night and accusing him by using stuff which he never does is absolutely wrong from Australians

[@loufrost824]

Don't rewrite history. Islam's manager mentioned the IV. Talk to big mouth about it.

[@Mustaza5]

stop daydreaming volk.

[@vmro9446]

💩🤡

[@mickmiller8961]

volk lost! hes acting like he dominated islam. i lost respect for him after iv accusations.

[@wsupbossph2367]

Rise of cry baby fighter 🤣😂

[@spruceleaf9447]

most overrated fighter. so glad he lost

[@Leg3ndKilla687]

Buddy fought the worst Islam ever. If you know the details than you know Alex got the best result possible in defeat

[@MayhemMMA]

Volk is a amazing guy so humble ! He is the goat ! Met him at a dragons game in Wollongong such a great guy happy to take photos with everyone and have a chat..

[@wisdomveritas6281]

VOLK P4P #1 CRYBABY IN THE UFC

[@nolimitjat]

PFP #1 sore loser