Alexander Volkanovski is clearly a beloved figure with Australian fight fans, as he found out in interesting fashion at a Q&A.
The legendary former featherweight champion is in Sydney for UFC 312, where he may be set to announce a rematch with Ilia Topuria for the belt. He is going to face off with the champion, who knocked him out to win the title last year, as they corner opposite one another on the event’s undercard.
And while making an appearance, Volkanovski sat down for a fan Q&A with a host of other big names from the promotion. Tai Tuivasa, Daniel Cormier, Charles Oliveira and Jack Della Maddalena all took part, with a variety of strange moments arising.
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Alexander Volkanovski asked on a date by outlandish fan during UFC 312 appearance
During the fight week for major pay-per-view events, UFC will often bring out either legends of the sport or some current stars for a Q&A session with local fans. It tends to happen before weigh-ins, and Australian viewers were given a real treat in Sydney yesterday.
From two-weight world champion Cormier to Australian fan favorites like Alexander Volkanovski and Tuivasa, they were given an exciting run through in the venue. But perhaps one of the strangest moments came when the former featherweight was offered a very different type of support.
“Volk, I love you, you’re my idol,” the fan told Volkanovski before popping the question. “I’m just wondering man, if you’re free next week or at any point to hang out or maybe a lunch, I’d love to do it.”
Tuivasa immediately seemed perturbed, asking the crowd member “Did you just ask him on a date?” When he replied “Yes I did,” the heavyweight joked that security should remove him from the building, all while Volkanovski giggled at centre stage.
Volkanovski attempted to tell the fan how much he appreciated the gesture, particularly after being told “I love him”. However, Tuivasa and Cormier both made even more fun of the fan, to which Volkanovski joked “Why is everyone giving him a hard time? I appreciate you, was it a date? I’m married!”
Alexander Volkanovski runs into Ilia Topuria during UFC 312 fight week
One of the interesting side stories of this fight week has been the run-ins between old rivals Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski. The pair fought for the featherweight belt last year, and are expected to run it back again as soon as April.
They are set to compete in a cold war of sorts this weekend in opposite corners, with the champion taking care of his brother Aleksandre Topuria. He faces short-notice debutant Colby Thicknesse, who is a close friend and teammate of Volkanovski.
The pair continue to run into each other throughout the week, and seem friendly whenever they do meet up. Topuria even posed for a photo with his old rival alongside Urijah Faber and Charles Oliveira during a backstage moment.
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