Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway (©UFC)

Alexander “The Great” Volkanovski, 31, of Windang, New South Wales, Australia is still the featherweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The Macedonian-Greek-Australian mixed martial artist successfully defended his title at “UFC 251” on July 11, 2020 (or July 12, 2020 in the United Arab Emirates.

Featuring 13 MMA matches, “UFC 251” took place at the UFC Fight Island on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. In the co-main event, Max “Blessed” Holloway, 28, of Waiane, Hawaii, United States challenged Volkanovski for the UFC Featherweight Championship title.

Herb Dean served as the referee of the title bout. After five five-minute rounds, the featherweight contest was left in the hands of the three judges.

Two judges scored it 48-47 in favor of Volkanovski while one judge also saw it 48-47 but in favor of Aldo. In the end, Dean raised the hand of the defending champion, who was declared the winner via split decision.

Winning at “UFC 251” improved Yan’s professional MMA record to 15 wins and 1 loss. The Yekaterinburg native is now riding a 10-bout winning streak.

On the other hand, Aldo now has 28 wins and 7 losses. The Brazilian MMA fighter is riding a three-bout losing streak.

It was a rematch between Volkanovski and Holloway. The latter was the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion when he was dethroned by the former at “UFC 245” on December 14, 2019.

Including Australia, and the U.S., 12 countries were represented at “UFC 251.” The others were Brazil, Czech Republic, England, Finland, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Scotland and Switzerland.

Volkanovski solely represented Australia. Holloway was one of the six fighters who represented the U.S.

Born to a Macedonian father and Greek mother in Shellharbour, New South Wales on September 29, 1988, Volkanovski was 12 years old when he won a national title in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Competing professionally as an MMA fighter since 2012, Volkanovski made his UFC debut in 2016. Before beating Holloway twice, the Macedonian-Greek-Australian MMA fighter defeated his first seven opponents in the promotion namely Yusuke Kasuya, Mizuto Hirota, Shane Young, Jeremy Kennedy, Darren Elkins, Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo.