Alexander Volkanovski made history in April at UFC 314 when he defeated Diego Lopes to become the first UFC champion lighter than the welterweight division to hold gold at age 35 or older. The win also helped him shake off back-to-back knockout losses, giving Volkanovski his first victory since 2023.

Speaking on Monday's "The Ariel Helwani Show" nearly a month after his crowning moment, the two-time champion said he still hasn't put much thought into having the title back in his possession.

"The whole being champion again and all that type of stuff, I guess I just — I don't like saying it like this — [don't] care too much about that," he said. "There's so much more things that I sort of enjoy with what happened, right? Defying the odds and things like that — I think that stuff means more. Even just the support coming back, and then all the people that have been backing me from the start, and just to see the smiles on their faces for me and getting it done, just things like that mean so much more to me.

"We talk about defying the odds and all that, but I've always gone into fights and I try to, even if I'm not the underdog, find reasons to be the underdog, if that makes sense. … I've just always done that, I don't know why. I guess I've just always been the underdog growing up, so I've wanted to use that through my whole career. So I always look for things to put me there. It's just good because this time, I didn't have to. It was pretty much all fact. People in my situation, before that fight, just don't get that done."

Volkanovski, 36, didn't appear to miss a beat against Lopes despite his career-long layoff heading into UFC 314. Accompanying that absence were questions of whether the Australian legend was declining or whether his losses were just the result of circumstances and the talented opposition he faced. Judging by the Lopes performance, it was the latter.

But of all the things to celebrate, Volkanovski is happiest to have shown he is still one of the very best after suffering his trio of title fight losses to Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.

"Coming off the KO losses and things like that, it just does not happen," Volkanovski said of reclaiming the belt at his age. "So for me to be in that position and have all these people supporting me, they were worried themselves, but I felt like they were a part of that journey with me.

"It's hard to explain. Everyone's always supported me, but this time it was more than that. It was very emotionally connected. And just seeing the smiles on their faces when I come back, bringing the belt back home to them, to people I care about, even just supporters [has been amazing]. … Because I don't really care — it's weird, it's hard to explain. I'm not too fussed about being champion again. But I think it's the story around it that's really important, and I guess that hasn't properly sunk in yet either."

Since Volkanovski's first Makhachev fight in early 2023, when he first unsuccessfully attempted to become a two-division champion, he's been open about mental health and the struggles he's battled throughout his late-career slump. After his victory at UFC 314, he delivered an inspirational moment by memorably telling fans in his post-fight interview that "adversity is a privilege." 

As notable as the line was after such a moment, it wasn't planned. Volkanovski only realized afterward that it was something that'd been floating in his subconscious throughout his journey.

"The most proud thing I am is probably getting back from the two knockouts," Volkanovski said. "The 35-year-old curse and all that type of stuff, that's just a number. I've always said I was different. I don't care, people can [say] whatever. But the two knockout losses, that's something that, scientifically, can sort of be proven — that it is hard to come back from that. [Your] confidence levels [take a major hit] and [it becomes] easier to get knocked out and things like that. I'd be lying if I wasn't thinking of that.

"I'm pretty good at not letting it break me, but at the same time, it's still a thought that's there for me to get through that adversity as well. Even just trying to stay confident. Even when the confidence wasn't there, just stay on path and just do what you had to do. Even when things were telling you, like, 'Oh, this ain't going good.' And just do what you had to do anyway. I'm quite proud of that."

While Volkanovski put together a complete performance his last time out, there were still some mid-fight scares. He appreciated the obstacles, though, and was glad to have been tested to such a degree. 

Jeff Bottari via Getty Images

Lopes knocking him down in Round 2, in particular, is a moment Volkanovski is glad happened. With all the questions about whether his chin can still hold up, surviving the power of Lopes helped him realize he still has durability on his side. 

As for what's next, the UFC's top featherweight contenders have all been vocal about their desire to take on the now two-time champion. Whether it's Volkanovski's old foe Yair Rodriguez who gets that call, or the surging and undefeated Movsar Evloev, Volkanovski is open to whichever direction the UFC goes.

But having already defeated Rodriguez in 2023, Volkanovski's top target is Evloev.

"I'll definitely go again this year," Volkanovski said. "As I said, I wanted to try and get straight back into it [after UFC 314], but [that's] just not allowed, so that's just going to have to wait a little bit.

"Straight after the fight people were mentioning Yair Rodriguez. Obviously, all camp before the fight I'm talking about Movsar, and obviously he's in a position where if you look at who deserves it, he's been undefeated and who he's fought [makes him deserve it].

"I don't want to be the one to turn Yair down because I like the guy, so I don't want to rob him of an opportunity if that comes forth. So we'll see what the UFC brings forward. But again, I do like that undefeated record [of Evloev]. I'd love to take that zero, especially for legacy and where I'm at. You're taking out an undefeated guy, that younger generation — younger than me, anyway."

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