‘Bulldoze these guys’: Alexander Volkanovksi’s vow on 2996-day Sydney homecoming

UFC Fight Night 121 is not a card remembered fondly in MMA circles, let alone for the 10,021 fans who traveled to Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday November 19, 2017.

It seemed like the event was doomed almost from the start. whether he is a heavyweight Mark Hunt withdraws from main event due to “medical concerns”Joan Calderwood’s scratch due to ” or “undeclared injury” is a doping violation. The Ultimate Fighter Series: Redemption winner jesse taylorAnd then with four separate weight misses on the eve of the card, there were just too many missteps at UFC Fight Night Sydney.

And that’s before you consider the ridiculous boomerang incident Replacement headliner included fabricio werdum and guest fighter colby covingtonThe Brazilian was later charged with simple assault and fined $[AUD]600.

13 fights followed, all but two of which went the distance, setting a new record for the longest UFC event ever with an actual fight time of 3:04:18, a record that stood for over two and a half years until eclipsed at UFC 251.

However, there were a few moments to excite the local fans, including a sensational flying knee KO from Tai Tuivasa. Rashad CoulterAnd the absolute dominance of Alexander Volkanovski Shane Young.

Now, 2996 days after that classic win, Volkanovski will win on Sunday [AEDT, Saturday night ET] Finally out in front of their home fans for their long awaited title fight.

“Man, you barely remember those days, you’re like ‘I’ve come so far, that was the beginning of my career’, you know it’s crazy how far I’ve come since then,” Volkanovski told ESPN. “I’ve been to at least a few of these events that were held here in Sydney, so whenever there’s a UFC event in Australia I’m at least always there, so I always make sure I’m supporting the event and helping out in any way I can and enjoying the atmosphere.

“But this time I want to try to bring that atmosphere… I want to bring the energy, our performance is fantastic and then, you know, even just the walkout and all that, we saw how it was in Perth [UFC 284] The last time I was able to fight was here in Australia, so you can only imagine what it will be like in Sydney.

“I don’t get that [energy] Last time I fought in Sydney I didn’t get as much recognition as I am getting now. But we’re in great shape now, the support has never been better and now I give back to all the fans who have been supporting me since day one, and even everyone and everything from back in Wollongong, they’ll all be there, so to be able to put on a show for them is going to be incredible.

As Volkanovski says, he hasn’t fought on home soil since UFC 284; He lost by unanimous decision Islam Makhachev 2023 will live long in the memory, despite the fact that the result did not go the Australians’ way.

But on Sunday we will face the Brazilians. diego lopez Different hits.

This is Volkanovski’s home state, Sydney’s Kudos Bank Arena is a stone’s throw from his hometown Wollongong, while attempting to throw down in the Harbor City has been as challenging as going to five rounds with Makhachev.

Of course, part of it is dependent on timing – which doesn’t always align in the dynamic world of the UFC. The COVID-19 pandemic, which caused Volkanovski to spend several weeks in hotel quarantine, also meant Volkanovski had to continue traveling abroad and then sit out hotel quarantine for a fortnight, as was Australia’s policy at the time.

Volkanovski got a chance to fight in Sydney early last year after losing his belt Ilya TopuriaBut again the UFC stars did not align and disappointingly, at least for home fans, Darius du Plessis and shaun strickland UFC 312 Title.

Given the eight-year wait to see his favorite UFC charge in action, Volkanovski is desperate to put on a show for his home fans, even if it doesn’t restart his career.

“We know he is [Lopes] Coming into this, we know it’s going to be an exciting fight; Many people would like to see against me [Movsar] Avtoev, the undefeated guy, probably for legacy reasons and people who know,” Volkanovski tells ESPN.

“But then you still have everybody who still wants to see me fight, they say ‘Oh, it’s going to be exciting, the last [against Lopes] Was an exciting one, now we get to see it in Sydney. So I think they’re all in for a treat, but yes, obviously legacy-wise, having a rematch against someone I just beat, is it going to do that much for my legacy? Probably not.”

So is it the case that there is little to gain and everything to lose? It’s a question Volkanovski admits is on the money, but he counters it with the belief that he can use this fight as a springboard, that a second impressive performance and a win over Lopez, who is six years his junior, will serve as a reminder to those who expect to dethrone him at the top of featherweight.

He says he will be a different fighter than the one who won 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 on the judges’ scorecards in Miami.

“The way I’m approaching it, I wish I could approach it [like] It’s in other fights,” Volkanovski explains. “I’ve been very successful in my career. But yes, how can I say this, I am a very strategic warrior.

“There [are] A lot of times it’s like ‘I’ll do this and oh, okay, let’s not waste energy here, let’s go here, let’s go there’. A lot of calculations were done this way. Whereas 1769557516 I feel like I don’t need to do that many calculations. You can crush these guys… you’re not getting tired. Why aren’t you bulldozing these guys when you can actually do it? I feel like I could have done that to all my opponents. Drive proper bulldozer on them.

“[I want to] Go straight to these people. And that’s what I plan to do this time. I’ll go straight to this guy [Lopes]”

Does he expect Lopez to come up with a different strategy than the all-out attack that failed last April?

“What would he have learned?” [from the first fight]? Will he try to be more patient and try to beat me and all of them? I don’t think so. I mean, he doesn’t fight like that and it’ll work in my favor,” Volkanovski says.

“I think he needs to be the same guy, maybe just do a few things better, be a little bit better at that; a little bit better if you want to come forward, I’m hoping he’ll at least make some adjustments like that.

“But it’s going to be the same Diego. I don’t think a lot is going to change, he’s going to bring the fight and that’s why the fans know they’re in for a treat, he’s going to be the same guy every time, he’s coming to take my head off. Come on, but just remember when you do that, you’re in a position that I can take your head off too.”

With the focus on Lopez, Volkanovski can’t help but look ahead to what 2026 might yield. He says a small change is possible, while the much-anticipated Whitehouse card also holds strong appeal. The timing there, provided he is victorious on Sunday, will also work.

But the reality is that one punch can end everything on Sunday. Still, he continues to talk that, at 37 years old, he is on borrowed time inside the Octagon.

“I’m happy to talk about it [age]Many people believe that why does he keep repeating that he is 37 years old? I love it. Again, I want that pressure. I don’t want people to think I’m old. I am old. But I’m still better than these guys and I’ll show you… I think I can really crush these guys, so let’s do that.”

If the loss comes at UFC 325, Volkanovski’s UFC legacy is secure. A two-time champion with five featherweight title defenses, Volkanovski has distinguished himself in the UFC world both inside and outside the Octagon.

He has nothing left to prove.

But after waiting eight years, getting the belt wrapped around his waist in front of his nearest and dearest in Sydney will be something truly special – for Volkanovski and all those who watched him dominate Shane Young on a long afternoon in 2017.