‘If you don’t learn, quit’: Aussie legend’s role in shaping next-gen stars

UFC superstar Alexander Volkanovski has already cemented himself as one of the greatest champions of all-time, but now the Australian featherweight is adding to his legacy away from the bright lights of the octagon.

As he enters the twilight of his glittering career, Volkanovski is now helping some of the sport’s other current and future stars on their own paths towards gold.

The 37-year-old, who has twice conquered the featherweight division, has been working closely with Brazilian knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy this year and will fly over to Los Angeles to be there for this weekend’s UFC 331 pay-per-view.

Ruffy (14-2, 13 KOs) has become one of the sport’s most exciting competitors, with all-but one of his professional fights ending in a finish, including back-to-back knockout victories over Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler in 2026.

He will now look to surge towards the top of the lightweight division on Sunday (AEST) when he meets Arman Tsarukyan in a five-round co-main event.

Speaking to nine.com.au this week, Ruffy explained the impact Volkanovski has had on his career since the pair linked up and started training together, with the clash against Tsarukyan looming as a career-changing opportunity.

“It was a privilege to have Volk training and putting his energy into my camp and helping me, and there are so many things I’ve learned from Volk that have made me become a better fighter,” Ruffy said through his translator.

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“My whole training camp has been preparing for five rounds, all of my sparring sessions have been for five rounds, so I’m 100 per cent ready for it if needed.

“Arman is next in line for a title shot, so if I win, I’ll be next – that’s what I believe.” 

Ruffy last competed on the Freedom 250 event at the White House in June, where he knocked out Chandler inside the first round, before proposing to his partner cageside in a touching moment amid the Washington chaos.

“I thank God for that opportunity, it was something really special,” he said.

“It was unforgettable, I don’t know how to explain it – I’m just super grateful, it was an unbelievable moment.”

The main event of this weekend’s card in Los Angeles features another fighter who has worked with Volkanovski in history-making flyweight champion, Joshua Van.

Van became the second-youngest champion in UFC history behind Jon Jones last December, when he defeated Alexandre Pantoja via first-round TKO.

In the process, Van also became the first UFC champion born in the 21st century.

The 24-year-old, who notes Conor McGregor as his inspiration and the reason he got into mixed martial arts, has since got to learn from Volkanovski first-hand during a training session in June – something he’s hoping to expand on.

“Man, I watched him [Volkanovski] train and I see why he’s where he is,” Van told nine.com.au heading into the UFC 331 main event.

“He’s amazing, just from watching him grappling, I learned so much from it. He rolled around for like 30 minutes non-stop and I asked him a lot of questions.

“He’s a great guy, he’s willing to help other fighters and I have nothing but respect for him and I’d really love to do a training camp with him.

“His movements are so simple, but they work and I like simple shit like that. 

“If you don’t learn every day, you should just quit fighting. I think there’s always things to learn, there’s no such thing as knowing at all. I’m still learning as I go.”

Van’s title triumph last year did come with an asterisk, with the fight called off after just 26 seconds when Pantoja suffered a freak elbow injury.

Asked if he felt like he had something to prove or if there was bad blood with Pantoja heading into the rematch, Van brushed it off completely.

“I ain’t got nothing to prove – I’m the champion, so come fight night, I’m gonna whoop his arse and that’s it,” the Burmese-American flyweight said.

“There’s no hate from me. I don’t know how he feels, but for me, it’s just business ... he’s just talked too much and that shit is kind of annoying me.”

Van (17-2), who was born in Myanmar but immigrated to Malaysia and then the United States as a child, said claiming UFC gold has already helped him away from the octagon and has made it easier to take care of his family.

His highly-anticipated rematch with Pantoja headlines a card that also includes Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson and Aussie cult hero Tai Tuivasa.