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Aussie UFC champ's bold accusation against Dana White

australian associated press
·3-min read
A 50-50 split image shows Alex Volkanovski on the left and Dana White on the right.
Australian UFC champ Alex Volkanovski has dismissed Dana White's criticism of his victory over Max Holloway, saying the UFC boss wanted his opponent to win anyway. Pictures: Getty Images

Aussie slugger Alex Volkanovski says he was surprised by post-fight comments by UFC boss Dana White questioning the validity of his win over Max Holloway.

The Wollongong ace retained his featherweight world title with a contentious split-points win over former champion Holloway on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

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After the fight White questioned journalists there about the decision and said there was some "bad judging".

Volkanovski believed White wanted the popular Hawaiian to win.

"I was surprised with him (White) making them comments but at the same time I'm not cause I know Max is a draw in our division," Volkanovski told AAP.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think that Dana wanted him to win."

Volkanovski conceded he lost the first two rounds after Holloway scored a knock down in each, but was "comfortable" he won the next three.

Volkanovski said the judges couldn't be blamed for the fight as the official stats showed he won.

"If Dana has a problem it has to be with the scoring system," Volkanovski told AAP.

"You've got to score round by round and people need to let go of those first two rounds as after the third round those first two rounds don't matter any more.

"I knew I'd lost those first two rounds and I needed to win the next three and that's exactly what I did."

Volkanovski says Dana White was backing opponent

Volkanovski upped his work rate, tagging Holloway with several punches in both and scored a takedown in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

He said he and his coaches recognised he needed to change his strategy if he was going to beat Holloway.

"It's always going to be an option - we knew we might have to use some wrestling.

"I knew I lost the first two rounds so I had to change things up on the fly.

Alexander Volkanovski is pictured celebrating his victory over Max Holloway.
Alexander Volkanovski celebrates after his split-decision victory over Max Holloway in their featherweight championship fight during UFC 251. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

"I wasn't fighting the right fight the first two rounds and my coaches gave me some advice and I had to make changes."

The 31-year-old is quarantining in a Sydney hotel for two weeks and said he had a left leg injury, which might require an X-ray.

"I think it's just corks but it's still pretty hard to walk on," he said.

He revealed that he suffered a similar injury in his right leg from his last fight, against Holloway in December and didn't get it treated and couldn't use it to full impact this time.

"I'm going to make sure I look after my shin this time because I had to get my right leg worked on in fight week.

"I still had to use it here and there but I didn't get to use the right leg as much as I'd like."