Alexander Volkanovski has chased a second UFC belt for seven years. This is the full story of Volk’s quest to become a two-division champion, from his featherweight title win over Max Holloway to two fights with Islam Makhachev, the Ilia Topuria knockout, and his call for a lightweight super fight with Justin Gaethje after UFC 333. Before the belts, Volkanovski was a concreter from Wollongong, Australia, who played rugby league at as much as 214 pounds. He cut down to featherweight, went unbeaten in the UFC on the way to a title shot, and started looking up at lightweight in 2021. He lost to Makhachev twice in 2023, lost his featherweight title to Topuria in 2024, then came back to beat Diego Lopes twice and finish the undefeated Movsar Evloev. Now, he says, a fight with Gaethje is “something I would retire for.” Told in Volk’s own words, with Dana White, from MMA Weekly’s press conferences, media days and weigh-ins, 2019 to 2026. Should the UFC give Volkanovski his shot at the ligh