UFC’s Alexander Volkanovski Works the Grill for Melbourne’s NFL Weekend

Wherever Alexander Volkanovski goes, the hungry come looking for him. It’s a buffet, really—UFC legends looking to stop him in his tracks, up-and-coming fighters wanting to establish their legacy at his expense. Eat or be eaten, as they say.

Every once in a while, Volk steps out of that cutthroat environment. How, then, does the reigning, two-time UFC Featherweight Champion find respite?

When Alexander the Great isn’t conquering his competition in the Octagon, you’ll find him cooking for friends and family at his New South Wales farm. There, the only thing he has to worry about is keeping the flames alive and the people he loves well fed. 

“It’s one of the few parts of my day where nobody’s counting rounds, reps, or scales,” Volk told ALL-STAR Magazine. “You get the fire going, have a drink, and spend time with good people.”

A Different Kind of Fight Night

Great food and fun company are in store for Volk as he teams up with Airbnb for a special event: an Aussie tailgate for 100 guests at the historic Seaworks site in Melbourne. 

Happening on Sept. 11, this event will feature the classics of an American tailgate party: hot dogs on the grill, wings and sliders in rotation, root beer to swig as games of cornhole and quarterback throws keep the good vibes flowing.

Timing is everything, of course. On the same day that Volk welcomes guests to the tailgate, American football fever takes over Melbourne as the city hosts the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in Australia—a matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It’s no wonder, then, that American travelers are showing a serious appetite for Melbourne this month. According to Airbnb, search interest in Melbourne has gone up more than 250% year-on-year, even as searches from locals have climbed more than 75%.

For Melbourne locals, this sporting boom presents an opportunity of its own. Major events—like, say, a historic football game—can bring thousands of visitors to the city, giving residents a chance to open their doors, welcome travelers and become local guides in their own backyard.

Guess who’s hosting the event and working the grill at this Friday’s tailgate? None other than the proud son of Wollongong. “The Aussie twist is the fun part of this unique Airbnb experience,” Volk shared. “We’re taking that classic American tailgate and making it feel like our kind of day—a proper feed, games, music, and a bit of friendly competition.” 

An Appetite for Competition

For Volk, hosting the tailgate is a homecoming in more ways than one. Growing up in New South Wales, he came to enjoy sumptuous meals with his big family. “My dad’s Macedonian and my mum’s Greek, so food was always a big part of family life growing up,” he recalled.

The Volkanovskis served one great dish after another, but there’s something else that they fed: young Alexander’s appetite for competition. Inspired by his parents’ work ethic, Volk developed an interest in intense, full-contact sports like wrestling and rugby.

Eventually, he made his way to the fighting smorgasbord known as mixed martial arts. After going 13-1 in promotions like Australian Fighting Championship and Pacific Xtreme Combat, Volk signed with UFC in 2016. What followed was a decade of mouthwatering matchups in the featherweight and lightweight divisions.

Volk’s highlight reel is a feast for the eyes: a stirring second-round finish of Chad Mendes, a showcase of aggression against Jose Aldo, and a trilogy of sensational title bouts with Max Holloway. This past February, in front of a partisan crowd in Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, Volk scored a unanimous decision over Diego Lopes to keep his second UFC Featherweight title reign going.

From Fight Gloves to Barbecue Tongs

But, this Friday, he’ll be trading in the fight gloves for barbecue tongs. As Volk hosts 100 hungry guests at the Melbourne tailgate, his mission will be a little different: keep the food coming and the good times rolling.

Ready to share the secrets of your grilling game, Volk?

“Don’t overthink it,” he says. “Get the grill hot before the food goes on, then leave the meat alone long enough to get a good crust. Keep a cooler part of the grill so you can move things around if they’re cooking too quickly.”