‘They’re all babies’: How footy fight with ‘Shrek’ set former 97kg Aussie prop up to be UFC champ – Fox Sports

Its been exaggerated, like thats necessary, to as high as 240 pounds by a confused Joe Rogan. But the fact remains, back in his rugby league days, Volkanovski, the 56 UFC featherweight champion, weighed in at 97 kilograms.
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For context, if you dont quite grasp just how heavy that is, 214 pounds or 97 kilograms would have put him above the light heavyweight limit of 205 pounds, and in the heavyweight division.
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He, of course, does not fight heavyweights; a Max Holloway rematch on Sunday at UFC 251 his latest test in a remarkable 8-0 run in the UFC that has seen the Australian become world champion.
But that doesnt mean he doesnt have experience fighting people far scarier at least superficially than he is.
They are babies to him, lifelong friend and former rugby league teammate, Eli Hutchinson, told The Athletic of Volkanovskis featherweight rivals.
And thats because back when Volkanovski was running around as a prop for the Warilla Gorillas, he was getting into fights with people like Shrek, who got his nickname from his stature alone.
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His name was Shrek because of how big he was, Volkanovski told The Athletic.
He was huge. Absolutely huge. Im talking like he wouldnt even be able to fight at heavyweight. He was a big front-rower, and he actually threw the first punch at me. He started swinging, so we started fighting. Its all right. He survived.
Volkanovskis friends, who remember Shrek as being at least 6-foot-5, said Volkanovski had to jump just to connect with his punches. But for the Australian, who somewhat quickly figured out that fighting was his calling, it stood him in good stead, after finally finding people his own size to pick on.
As a professional, Volkanovski has only ever lost one fight. It was in 2013, and it was at welterweight; a full two divisions up from where he currently resides. Seven years on, he is 21-1-0, undefeated in the UFC, and with a win against Holloway on Sunday, could start making the argument that hes the best to ever do it at 145 pounds.
Volkanovski makes weight ahead of UFC 251.Source: Getty Images
His last two wins have come against Jose Aldo and Holloway; the only two names in the conversation for greatest featherweight of all time.
Volkanovski landed 129 strikes to Aldos 39 when he beat him in Rio de Janeiro back in May of last year. Then, against Holloway, he dominated a title fight against a man, who at that point, was the most dominant champion in the organisation.
He has never truly been troubled in the UFC cage; a bizarre concept when you consider the quality of opponent hes had to overcome.
And thats because while hes found a home at 145 pounds a far cry from his former 214-pound self Volkanovskis strength hasnt gone anywhere.
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The guys a freak, Brad Riddell, Volkanovskis striking coach and another City Kickboxing UFC product, told foxsports.com.au last year.
When you train with him, you feel it. Hes incredibly strong, fit, and intelligent.
On Fight Island, Volkanovskis out for a knockout, with Holloway, and some fans, still claiming the wrong decision was made at UFC 245.
Time for the rematch.Source: Getty Images
Volkanovski punished Holloways legs landing the second most leg kicks in a fight in UFC history on his way to outdoing his Hawaiian opponent in the stand-up.
He disrupted the rhythm and distance of Holloway, who has made a habit of treating fellow featherweight stars as veritable punching bags. The 511 Holloway, who is a master in the stand-up, towers over Volkanovski. Weirdly, the Australian has the two-and-a-half-inch reach advantage.
It was a flawless game plan drawn up by head coach Joe Lopez and Eugene Bareman and co. at City Kickboxing that saw Volkanovski triumph last time.
Things cant and wont be exactly the same for him in the rematch. But that could suit him even more.
There has to be changes, there has to be adjustments, Volkanovski said of the rematch.
But my overall game is a big problem for him. And for him to change the fight, or change his game so much is just not going to work for him.

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