Alexander Volkanovski: del rugby, a rey de UFC

[{"selector":"#anim-29626bf7-15bf-43c7-af1b-cab75a69ea1a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.033980678341304e-7%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Álvaro Carrera

[{"selector":"#anim-57662691-a59c-43dc-b1af-ad4d990f0688","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77f780eb-4958-45b5-adb3-d58a978d2473 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8928571428571429)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] Alexander Volkanovski defiende el Campeonato del peso pluma de la UFC este sábado ante Holloway. La trilogía más esperada. Su historia, no deja de sorprender.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7edb8c8-3ab9-495a-aee1-8d25e6121c74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] De padre macedonio y madre griega, Volkanovski nació en Australia. Empezó a hacer lucha grecorromana de niño.

[{"selector":"#anim-5b33c0a2-a738-49d0-ab7a-f3c7e951b2ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e9ccb0ee-2458-4678-8911-3675681e3def [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.772727028629745%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Los éxitos llegaron temprano para Volkanovski, pero con 14 años dejó la lucha por el rugby, llegando a jugar para los Warilla Gorillas.

[{"selector":"#anim-800bb84b-1dea-45e9-bd1c-88538b2f9c46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a50ecb5-2f83-41be-b32a-fe0dfac06488 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.501441548973748%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] En 2011, Volkanovski retomó la lucha grecorromana y empezó con MMA para mantenerse en forma en la temporada sin partidos.

[{"selector":"#anim-aaab836e-38dd-463e-be16-76cf45eeccd6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] El gimnasio le volvió a enganchar y decidió, con 23 años, dejar el rugby para intentar ser luchador profesional de MMA. Pesaba 97 kg.

[{"selector":"#anim-2e0c8f58-4302-41b3-a3cf-f7fd7f50f2cb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d48e7d1a-6e57-4548-99b6-f58d44c222c0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.886363423295453%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Empezó a competir y a bajar de peso (ahora da en báscula 65,8 kg). Y en mayo de 2012 debutó como profesional.

[{"selector":"#anim-6696777b-36a3-4518-87a5-5a98a977b862","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff2b92c5-1af1-4239-bef6-eb7891f43d56 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(11.647727040007167%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] De 2012 a 2016 su evolución fue tremenda. Fue ganando diferentes títulos en ligas menores en su país, Australia.

[{"selector":"#anim-d2d1811f-0bb8-47c4-a7eb-0f0c21b13608","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 157.00800%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8eae8696-3066-4115-9bd8-150659fc15aa [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.915747744622752%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Con un récord de 13-1, la UFC llamó a su puerta. Querían competidores locales para las veladas de Oceanía. Tras cuatro triunfos, vieron talento y lo llevaron a Estados Unidos.

[{"selector":"#anim-2244bb62-e040-4b04-97d4-fa3097aa2a8d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f45073ec-ccb5-4b51-874c-564df4d8d70d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(40.659768411878055%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Su progresión seguía impresionando a todos. Tras noquear a Chad Mendes, la UFC le puso su mayor examen: José Aldo. Le ganó en mayo de 2019.

[{"selector":"#anim-c93a6a94-cfbf-4e3a-a674-c44576027d01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Volkanovski tuvo su primera pelea por un título en diciembre de 2019. Contra todo pronóstico derrotó a Max Holloway, campeón más que solvente.

[{"selector":"#anim-a0c0d432-9d27-4e74-aeaa-eedefe4274d8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c737af8a-0ff0-4967-a608-5c9154064f9d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.8849557522123894)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"forwards"}] La pelea fue igualada y siete meses después volvieron a verse las caras. Ganó de nuevo y dio un golpe sobre la mesa, aunque tenía haters…

[{"selector":"#anim-32a7f0a8-ff51-4bf0-b4f8-e27ed9f9606c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tras esos dos triunfos ajustados, dio una exhibición ante Brian Ortega, retuvo su cinturón y se confirmó como uno de los mejores.

[{"selector":"#anim-241347e3-9f63-4ec5-913c-9b4fddf08963","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] En abril de 2022, noqueó a Korean Zombie demostrando que a sus 33 años, su techo todavía está muy lejos. Debe confirmarlo este sábado otra vez.

[{"selector":"#anim-ff4d049c-db4f-4520-8cbf-1067e185396a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-54.10617379012137%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}]