Alexander Volkanovski
Active 2016–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 95.0
Scouting report
Defending the featherweight crown five consecutive times while sweeping a trilogy against Max Holloway established Alexander "The Great" Volkanovski as a top pound-for-pound champion. Born in Shellharbour, Australia, Volkanovski transitioned from semi-professional rugby to dominate the division with pace and tactical feints out of City Kickboxing. His tactical output is captured by a 97 Fight IQ and 96 Cardio, powering his championship 95 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Volkanovski defended his championship across 2020 and 2021, defeating Max Holloway in a split decision at UFC 251 on Fight Island before surviving deep submission attempts to defeat Brian Ortega at UFC 266 in Las Vegas. His fight IQ, low calf kicks, and championship conditioning are reflected in a 96 Cardio and 96 Fight IQ.
Volkanovski dominated Max Holloway in their UFC 276 trilogy, stopped Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in Las Vegas, and pushed Islam Makhachev in Perth before dropping the featherweight belt to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in Anaheim. His tactical boxing, defensive wrestling, and championship stamina justify his 94 Boxing and 97 Fight IQ.
Overall is an editorial rating. It can differ from a simple average of the attributes.
Alexander Volkanovski, the all-rounder who out-thinks people
Alexander Volkanovski played rugby before he fought, and it shows in how he moves through traffic. He shut out Max Holloway and pushed Islam Makhachev close, mostly by using feints to see how an opponent would respond. For a 25-0 build he is the safest all-round pick.
Volkanovski attribute by attribute
Boxing. Fast and technical. Constant feints draw a reaction, then a quick overhand or combination lands before he angles out.
Kickboxing. Effective low kicks, inside and outside, which wrecked Max Holloway's base in their first fight and blended into his punching.
Wrestling. Strong both ways. A low center of gravity gives him a good double-leg, and he can scramble out from under Dagestani wrestlers.
BJJ. Fantastic submission defence. He survived a mounted guillotine and a triangle from Brian Ortega without panicking.
Strength. Dense muscle on a frame that looks heavier than it is. He wins grip fights in the clinch.
Durability. Good recovery. He took big shots from Chad Mendes and Max Holloway and answered with more volume.
Cardio. Effectively unlimited. He keeps bouncing and feinting from the first round to the last.
Fight IQ. Tactical and adaptable. He follows a plan, gathers information with feints and adjusts in the middle of the fight.
The trait to take: Fight IQ
It is his best weapon. A fighter with it executes feint-heavy plans and stays a step ahead of the opponent.
The trait to skip: Offensive BJJ
His defence is great, but he finishes with ground and pound rather than submissions. Do not expect a submission hunter from this slot.
Keep exploring
Closest featherweight profiles to Alexander Volkanovski, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Ilia Topuriabest boxing 96 · weakest strength 86
- Jose Aldobest kickboxing 96 · weakest strength 82
- Max Hollowaybest cardio 98 · weakest wrestling 78
- Frankie Edgarbest cardio 98 · weakest strength 78
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- The most complete fighters: a guide that fits Alexander Volkanovski's strongest attribute, Fight IQ.
Draft Alexander Volkanovski into your build
Alexander Volkanovski enters the pool on any spin landing on featherweight between 2020 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Alexander Volkanovski is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Alexander Volkanovski's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.