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The 37-year-old secured his eighth UFC title victory at UFC 325 in Sydney<\/a>, drawing level with legend Jose Aldo for the most championship wins in the division.<\/p>\n Makhachev, the UFC\u2019s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, took to Instagram following Volkanovski\u2019s title-winning performance over the weekend to deliver the ultimate compliment.<\/p>\n The Russian posted a clip of Volkanovski\u2019s post-fight interview with the caption: \u201cThe Greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n The endorsement carries serious weight given the history between the two legends.<\/p>\n Makhachev and Volk have shared the Octagon twice in lightweight title fights, with Makhachev winning both, though many believe Volkanovski may have edged the first encounter.<\/p>\n The comment echoed similar praise from current and former UFC greats including Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Israel Adesanya and Chad Mendes who all agree Volk is the greatest featherweight ever.<\/p>\n Volkanovski has racked up arguably the most significant victories in featherweight history, including three wins over Max Holloway, as well as victories against Brian Ortega and the legendary Jose Aldo.<\/p>\n FILE – Islam Makhachev of Russia celebrates after he beats Alex Volkanovski of Australia in the UFC lightweight championship fight during UFC 294, at the Ethihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo\/Kamran Jebreili, File)Source: AP<\/p>\n On Tuesday, MMA\u2019s most prominent journalist, Ariel Helwani, added his name to that list and explained why Volk\u2019s greatness goes beyond the Octagon.<\/p>\n \u201cThis guy is everything you want in a champion,\u201d said Helwani on his YouTube show.<\/p>\n \u201cHe never complains, he never criticizes. He says his part, advocates for other fighters in the division who are getting looked over, looked past, because he was once one of those guys.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd to see the cult-like favorite that he has become, not only in Australia, but in the sport of MMA, and now becoming this sort of social media sensation with this cooking stuff\u2026 to see him turn into this and pitch another shut out. <\/p>\n \u201cAlex Volkanovski is in many people\u2019s eyes now, and mine, the greatest featherweight <\/p>\n champion of all time, and as a result, the greatest featherweight fighter of all time.<\/p>\n \u201c…To see this guy at 37 do this against anyone coming his way, to see him rebound from the Islam Makhachev knockout loss, the mistake of taking that fight on short notice, and then the revelation afterwards that he was \u2018doing his head in\u2019, as he said, because he was out of action for three months. <\/p>\n \u201cHe takes this fight on short notice, and gets knocked out for the first time in his career. And you think, wow, there\u2019s going to come a time where this man will regret taking this fight, because it changed everything. <\/p>\n \u201cIt changed the trajectory of his career. He will not be the legend that he was supposed to be, and he doesn\u2019t even take that much time in between that fight and the next one. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was just four months in between that fight and the Illia [Topuria]. What happens there? He runs into the buzzsaw that is Ilia Topuria and he gets knocked out. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd then you think, \u2018Wow, he\u2019s really going to regret that. He will never live this down. He will never get over this. Oh, my God, he\u2019s too old. He can\u2019t take a punch. The chin is gone\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n We all know the story. <\/p>\n Volkanovski regrouped, came back stronger, and reclaimed his featherweight crown against Lopes.<\/p>\n And then went and beat him again.<\/p>\n Helwani said Volk could have bragged about his greatness at this point, but he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n No, not Volk.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does this guy do at the post fight press conference?\u201d asked Helwani.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s like, \u2018Look, I need to be the champion that fights the most deserving guys. I need to be the champion that does what\u2019s right. I need to set the tone and standard for this weight class\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho else [is doing that]? Name me one fighter that is doing that in any division? Name me one? And I love a lot of them. <\/p>\n \u201cName me one that says the things that Alex Volkanovski is saying?\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n \u2018BROKE BOTH FEET\u2019: UFC star\u2019s shock hospital reveal as Volk whacks \u2018butthurt\u2019 rival<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018S***\u2019: Volk opens up on scariest moment in homecoming… and big hint on next title fight<\/a><\/p>\n