Ever wondered if any fighters regret their tattoos? While it’s not something you hear about often, it’s not entirely uncommon either. Conor McGregor and Max Holloway’s enigmatic tattoos are known features of their personalities. However, one fighter who’s been open about having second thoughts is Alexander Volkanovski. The Aussie juggernaut has two tattoos: one on his back and another on his right shoulder that stretches down to his wrist, featuring a Chinese dragon. While he’s happy with the back tattoo, he’s not as fond of the dragon design on his shoulder.
In fact, Volkanovski recently made headlines ahead of his UFC 314 return after being sidelined for a while. In the main event, he will be competing for the vacated featherweight title against Diego Lopes. During this time, his honest confession about his first tattoo resurfaced from a 2022 Sporting News Australia interview, where he shared:
“My first tattoo was this one that I’ve been trying to cover up for years,” Volkanovski admitted. “I’m still trying to cover it up; I don’t even know what you would call it. I got this tattoo, and I remember the missus got me a tattoo voucher,” he recalled. “I remember going in there, trying to find something because there was only a certain amount of money. I was with a couple of mates, and they were getting frustrated, like, ‘Hurry up!’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’ll do,’ so I just walked out. I said, ‘Yeah, that’ll do,’ and locked it in. I literally got the tattoo, walked out, and thought, ‘What the hell have I done?’” ‘The Great’ explained.
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Despite the regret over that design, it’s clear Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t hate tattoos. In fact, back in 2016, he posted a series of pictures of himself giving tattoos and promoting the Thailand-based studio Celebrity Ink Tattoos. The studio, located in Patong, seemed to have ‘The Great’ fully invested—not only as a face of the brand but also as someone who got hands-on, quite literally, by inking a few tattoos himself.
Fast forward to the present, and the 36-year-old is no longer the unstoppable force he once was. After riding high on a 22-fight win streak, he now finds himself 1-3 in his last four appearances. His upcoming bout at UFC 314 against Diego Lopes could either reignite his title run—or further dim his legacy. Still, Conor McGregor’s former conqueror sees things differently. Let’s hear his take!
Dustin Poirier weighs in on Alexander Volkanovski’s legacy
“Maybe me and Dustin can have a good fight. I know he just wants good fights. Obviously, we have a lot of respect for each other,” Alexander Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel following UFC 302 last year. At the time, Volkanovski was dealing with a rough stretch—two consecutive losses to Islam Makhachev in the lightweight division, and a crushing defeat at featherweight where he lost his belt to Ilia Topuria. Still, amid all the setbacks, one name remained on his radar: Dustin Poirier.
And it made perfect sense. ‘The Diamond’ had also just come up short in a title shot at UFC 302, submitted via D’Arce choke by Makhachev. With one fight left in his career, the stars seemed aligned for a “uno más” showdown between the two veterans. But the idea never came to fruition. Now, as Volkanovski prepares for his return to Miami, the narrative has shifted. Once viewed as nearly invincible, he’s now 1-3 in his last four, and questions are starting to surface—does another loss dim his legacy? Could it damage his GOAT case? Not if you ask Dustin Poirier. Speaking on the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast, Poirier stood firmly in support of ‘The Great’s greatness.
“Reclaiming the throne is huge for his career, but his legacy is already set,” Poirier said. “The things he’s done in the featherweight division—a win or a loss doesn’t erase that. His track record, his championships—he’s a legend, no matter what. He’s a real fighter. Guys like that, I really appreciate in this sport. He’s coming off tough fights, and now he’s stepping in against a young lion on a hot streak, headlining in Miami. Volkanovski threw himself into the fire again. That’s what I love about him.”
What do you think about Alexander Volkanovski’s upcoming showdown with Diego Lopes? Do you believe ‘The Great’ can overcome the rising star Lopes at UFC 314? Share your thoughts below!
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