‘The Great’ received passionate support from WWE star Rhea Ripley as he achieved another incredible milestone in his legendary career.
Alexander Volkanovski successfully regained the featherweight championship by defeating Diego Lopes in a unanimous decision in Miami.
Despite entering the fight after two consecutive knockout losses, the Australian fighter demonstrated that he remains a top competitor in the 145-pound division.
Volkanovski is already considering his next opponent and a preferred date for his return, aiming to be one of the most active champions in the sport once again.
While his opponent is also a fan favorite, and Lopes acknowledged the defeat in a post-fight statement, the two-time champion received an overwhelmingly positive reception at the Kaseya Center on April 12.
Rhea Ripley`s Intense Reaction to Alexander Volkanovski`s Historic Win Captured on Video
UFC events in Miami have a history of delivering exciting cards and memorable moments, making the Kaseya Center the prime location on April 12.
Before his walk to the octagon last Saturday night, Alexander Volkanovski shared a friendly moment with fellow Australian Rhea Ripley, who came to support him.
The UFC 314 broadcast highlighted several notable attendees at the year`s biggest event, with WWE`s Rhea Ripley receiving a warm welcome from the crowd.
Ripley, who is scheduled to compete for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 41 this weekend in Las Vegas, watched the event alongside her husband, AEW’s Buddy Murphy.
The WWE star proudly wore a Volkanovski t-shirt as she watched ‘The Great’ engage in a fight of the night performance against Diego Lopes.
Volkanovski secured victory by decision, overcoming statistical odds that suggested a challenging path back to the top for the 36-year-old.
Ripley later shared a video on her Instagram story, originally posted by jzosports, capturing her enthusiastic reaction to the scorecards announcement after the main event, adding, “Can you tell we were hyped?”
Alexander Volkanovski Overcomes the 35+ Curse at UFC 314
Fight fans have recently become aware of the “35 or older curse” in weight divisions below welterweight, where fighters past this age have struggled in title fights.
Alexander Volkanovski defied this trend, proving that records are meant to be broken by reclaiming the featherweight title for a second time at 36 years old.
He achieved this comeback after suffering consecutive knockout losses, which led some to doubt his ability to compete at the highest level again, making his return to the top even more remarkable.
Volkanovski`s exceptional career continues, and he shows no signs of slowing down after navigating recent challenges.
Simply put, he reminded everyone why his nickname ‘The Great’ is so fitting.
Rupert Hartwell