Alex Volkanovski has come a long way, from Shellharbour concreter and budding rugby league player to Australia's second UFC world champion.
"He was playing rugby league, then when he decided to start fighting I didn't like it because of how dangerous the sport is," he said.
"But he told me the sport is actually safer than rugby league. You have a referee watching two people the whole time, while in rugby league you have 26 people and only three referees." Tony Volkanovski knew his son would go on to be a champion and make good on his promise to bring home an early Christmas present for the family.
"From the day he started he said he wanted to be the best … he said he wanted to have that belt, and after eight years he finally did. "A couple of weeks before he went to Vegas he said, 'Dad, I know you're always nervous at my fights, but trust me I'll be fine. I'm fit, and I'll bring that belt home and we'll celebrate it for Christmas'."With the dust yet to settle on the fight the door has already been opened for a potential rematch on Volkanovski's home turf.
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