UFC: Alex Volkanovski motivated by haters who think Max Holloway is better, says coach – ‘that gets him up in the morning’

Frank Hickman thinks Australian is already greatest featherweight of all time, and will underline it in career-defining trilogy fight

‘This fight excites him, because people still say Holloway’s a great, great fighter, and that he’s better than Alex,’ coach says

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Alex Volkanovski (right) with coach Frank Hickman ahead of his seminar at the Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA gym. Photo: Criscarlo Chua

Published: 3:28pm, 8 Jun 2022Updated: 6:33pm, 8 Jun 2022

Alex Volkanovski already has a strong claim to being the greatest featherweight fighter of all time – but he is going to make sure there can be no doubt, according to his coach Frank Hickman.

The UFC featherweight champion returns to the Octagon next month for what could be a career-defining trilogy fight against Max Holloway.

It marks a quick turnaround from his fourth-round TKO victory against “The Korean Zombie” Jung Chan-sung in April, with the 33-year-old Australian heading almost immediately back into camp after a brief stop-off in Phuket.

“Volk doesn’t have to prove anything for me, and I’m sure his teammates and coaches agree, because we know he’s the best featherweight of all time,” Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA’s Hickman – who cornered Volkanovski for his last two fights in the US – told the Post in Phuket.

“But this is just more writing the history books for him, it’s what he wanted to do. He jumped right around and turned back into camp, so my hat’s off to him.