Alexander Volkanovski has come a long way since making his UFC debut in 2016. The former UFC Featherweight Champion will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest featherweight of all time.
He is also only the fourth featherweight champion in the company’s history. With multiple wins over former Max Holloway, and Jose Aldo, Chad Mendes, Yair Rodrigues, Brian Ortega among others, Volkanovski has cemented his position as one of the greatest of all time. Alexander Volkanovski (29-26-3) started his MMA career in 2012 at the Revolution Promotions: Revolution at the Roxy in Sydney, Australia.
Volkanovski made his UFC debut in November 2016 against Yusuke Kasuya, a fight he won via stoppage in the second round. Volkanovski also holds the record for one of the longest winning streaks in UFC history. The Australian fighter was on a 12-fight win streak from 2016-2023, with his last loss coming against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294.
However, that wasn’t the first time Volkanovski suffered a loss inside the cage. The current UFC Champion has lost four times in his mixed martial arts career, and two of those losses have come against the same fighter.
Volkanovski suffered the first loss of his UFC career after dropping a unanimous decision loss against Islam Makhachev in his first attempt to become a two-division champion. The Australian fighter’s second loss also came against Islam Makhachev, but this time via way of KO, after Volkanovski’s failed attempt to grab the lightweight gold once again.
Nothing but respect 🤝#UFC298 pic.twitter.com/WBHjyRQX4F
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024
Ilia Topuria became the first fighter to beat Alexander Volkanovski in the featherweight division after he knocked him out cold at UFC 298 to end Volkanovski’s record-breaking winning streak, title reign and a historic run as the featherweight champion that saw him beat the who’s who of the division, including Max Holloway, thrice.
Corey Nelson is the first fighter to beat Alexander Volkanovski
Alexander Volkanovski’s first professional MMA fight was against Gerhard Voigt, which he won via unanimous decision. He defeated Regan Wilson in his second fight, this time securing the win via TKO. After clinching two wins in his career, Volkanovski won his third bout against Anton Zafir in 2013.
Riding on a three-fight winning streak, Volkanovski, had his first setback when he suffered a devastating first loss of his MMA career at the hands of Corey Nelson. He was competing in the Welterweight division at the time.
“The Great” squared off against Nelson at Australian Fighting Championship 5 in 2013. Corey Nelson knocked out the Australian fighter via a strong uppercut just 13 seconds into the third round.
This was the first time the Aussie didn’t get his hand raised at the end. But since that loss, Volkanovski has been on a manhunt of victories. Volkanovski has been dismantling high-profile fighters and remains undefeated in his featherweight career.
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