In spite of his outwardly tough demeanour, Alex truly embodies the qualities of a dedicated family man. He is happily married to his beautiful wife Emma, and takes immense pride in being a cherished father to his daughters. This deep commitment to his family serves as a constant source of motivation and drive, spurring him to train relentlessly and compete at the highest echelons of his profession.
Alex was born in Wollongong, NSW, and he carries within him a strong sense of pride for his Macedonian and Greek heritage, which he inherited from his father and mother. This connection to his ancestral roots is reflected in his fighting moniker, "The Great," drawing parallels to the famed Alexander the Great, who too boasted a Macedonian father and Greek mother.
From a young age, Alex immersed himself in the world of Greco-Roman wrestling, showcasing exceptional talent and securing national titles twice by the tender age of 12. At 14, he made the decision to pursue rugby, where he quickly excelled as a semi-professional player, making his mark as a front rower for the Warilla Gorillas and culminating in a triumphant grand final victory in his final season.
At the age of 22, during the off-season of his rugby career, Alex discovered MMA as a means of maintaining his fitness levels. It didn't take long for his passion for the sport to ignite, prompting him to commit to full-time training and explore the limits of his potential. Originally competing in the middleweight division, Alex underwent an impressive physical transformation, shedding weight and eventually finding his home in the featherweight division.
Transitioning from his original role as a front-row rugby player, Alex, affectionately known as Volko, transformed himself from a 96kg powerhouse into a high-octane athlete weighing 65.8kg. With his exceptional skills, strength, and stamina, he has rightfully earned recognition as one of the world's top pound-for-pound fighters, boasting an impressive professional MMA record of 25-2-0 and currently reigning as the UFC Featherweight Champion.
Supported wholeheartedly by his wife Emma, Alex made the courageous decision to leave behind his full-time job as a Concreter and fully dedicate himself to a career in MMA. Training tirelessly under the watchful eye of his head coach, Joe Lopez, from Freestyle Martial Arts in NSW, and refining his skills through frequent training camps in Thailand, Alex's career gained significant momentum. It was during this time that he forged lifelong friendships with fellow fighters such as Brad Riddell and Kai Kara-France, while also developing a close bond with the team at City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand.
‘MMA is a big part of my life. All the work I put in is to become the best. It means providing for my family. I am a competitor and will not rest until I get what I am after’ -AV
Making his debut with the UFC in November 2016, Alex wasted no time climbing the ranks of his division, eventually earning himself a title shot against Max Holloway. Emerging victorious, he was crowned the UFC Featherweight World Champion on December 19, 2019.
Since capturing the title, Alex has been an indomitable force, successfully defending his belt against the likes of Holloway (twice), Brian Ortega (in a fight recognized as ESPN's Fight of the Year in 2021), and Korean Zombie. These stellar performances have solidified Alex's status as the greatest featherweight of all time.
"I’m going to stay champion for a long time’ -AV
Alex's unparalleled work ethic extends to every facet of his life. Whether as a devoted husband, a doting father to his daughters, or a world champion fighter, he constantly strives for excellence and personal growth.
As he continues to headline sold-out events for the world's premier fight promotion, Alex remains an unassuming individual achieving extraordinary feats.
Balancing his passions for cooking, camping, fishing, and exploring the great outdoors with his family, Alex is truly living a life that most can only dream of, a reality attained by only a fortunate few who mix raw talent with drive and determination.
‘I pride myself on being a family man. I pride myself on being respectful and hard working’ -AV
Result | Opponent | Event | Method |
Loss | Islam Makhachev | UFC294 | KO |
Win | Yair Rodríguez | UFC290 | TKO |
Loss | Islam Makhachev | UFC284 | Decision |
Win | Islam Mac | UFC276 | Decision |
Win | Chan Sung Jung | UFC276 | TKO |
Win | Brian Ortega | UFC266 | Decision |
Win | Max Holloway | UFC 251 | Decision (split) |
Win | Max Holloway | UFC 245 | Decision (unanimous) |
Win | Jose Aldo | UFC 237 | Decision (unanimous) |
Win | Chad Mendes | UFC 232 | TKO (punches) |
Win | Darren Elkins | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov | Decision (unanimous) |
Win | Jeremy Kennedy | UFC 221 | TKO (punches and elbows) |
Win | Shane Young | UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura | Decision (unanimous) |
Win | Mizuto Hirota | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt | Decision (unanimous) |
Win | Yusuke Kasuya | UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Brunson | TKO (Punches) |
Win | Jai Bradney | Wollongong Wars 4 | TKO (Punches) |
Win | Jamie Mullarkey | Australian Fighting Championship 15 | KO (punch) |
Win | Yusuke Yachi | Pacific Xtreme Combat 50 | Submission (triangle choke) |
Win | James Bishop | Australian Fighting Championship 13 | TKO (punches) |
Win | David Butt | Wollongong Wars 2 | TKO (punches) |
Win | Kyle Reyes | Pacific Xtreme Combat 45 | Decision (unanimous) |
Win | Jai Bradney | Roshambo MMA 3 – In the Cage | Submission (rear-naked choke) |
Win | Rodolfo Marques Diniz | Australian Fighting Championship 9 | KO (Punches) |
Win | Greg Atzori | Roshambo MMA 2 – In the Cage | Submission (guillotine choke) |
Win | Luke Catubig | Australian Fighting Championship 7 | TKO (punches) |
Loss | Corey Nelson | Australian Fighting Championship 5 | TKO (head kick and punches) |
Win | Anton Zafir | Roshambo MMA 1 – In the Cage | TKO (punches) |
Win | Regan Wilson | Southern Fight Promotions – Cage Conquest 2 | TKO (doctor stoppage) |
Win | Gerhard Voigt | Revolution Promotions – Revolution at the Roxy | Decision (unanimous) |
26-3-0
FEATHERWEIGHT
KO 13 | DEC 9 | SUB 3 |