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Alexander Volkanovski has spent much of his professional career travelling the world to face some of the best fighters in mixed martial arts. However, the Australian UFC champion has also developed another passion, and this sees him far removed from the Octagon. This passion? Cooking! He enjoys discovering new cuisines and sharing his experiences online.
His popular Cooking With Volk series shows a very different side to an athlete who is known for his fighting skills. Viewers get to see Volkanovski experimenting with ingredients, entertaining guests and exploring the traditions behind different dishes. It’s an entertaining combination of food, travel and personality that has developed a substantial following of its own.
Meet Alexander Volkanovski: The UFC Champion Who Loves Cooking
Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, Volkanovski is famed for his achievements in the UFC featherweight division. His first championship was won back in 2019 with a victory over Max Holloway. This was just the start of him establishing himself as one of the sport’s greatest featherweights ever. He lost his title in 2024, but bounced back in 2025, showing a resilience that’s hard to match.
Away from competition, however, Volkanovski has cultivated interests that have little to do with fighting. Cooking has become one of his most recognisable hobbies, with his videos showing him preparing everything from family recipes to substantial barbecue meals. His relaxed approach and willingness to experiment have helped introduce his personality to audiences who might otherwise know him only through UFC events.
As a brand ambassador for Rainbet, Volkanovski also represents a cryptocurrency casino and sportsbook whose sporting interests connect naturally with his fighting career. Yet his cooking activities demonstrate why his appeal extends beyond conventional sports promotion. His enthusiasm for food, humour and entertaining guests makes him an engaging personality outside professional competition.
Cooking With Volk: How a Hobby Became a Popular Series
It was in February 2021 that Volkanovski introduced Cooking with Volk. This started with him sharing recipes thanks to his already established YouTube presence. The first episode featured lamb souvlaki and wagyu beef. This gave an early look at how he enjoys combining ingredients.
In October 2026, in an interview, Volkanovski stated that his interest in recipes and cooking developed during the COVID pandemic. He started to share his cooking activities online and, as it became more popular, he developed this into a successful content series.
The series has grown hugely since those early episodes. By October 2026, Cooking With Volk had attracted more than 450,000 YouTube subscribers and accumulated over 64 million views. Its videos now include international food experiences, outdoor adventures, collaborations with sporting personalities and preparations for large family gatherings.
What makes the content appealing is its informal presentation. Volkanovski isn’t attempting to recreate the atmosphere of a professional restaurant kitchen, and the videos frequently include conversation, jokes and unexpected moments. Viewers follow the entire experience, from choosing ingredients and preparing food to sharing the finished meal.
Greece: Discovering His Mediterranean Roots
Greek cuisine was a natural starting point for Volkanovski. His mother has a Greek background, and that means he has a personal connection to the food and culture. The country is known for dishes with grilled meats, fresh vegetables, olive oil, and aromatic herbs. Traditional dishes come with straightforward ingredients and methods that have developed over many generations.
One of the most recognisable examples is gyros. This is a popular Greek dish commonly served in pita bread with vegetables and sauces. Meat is traditionally cooked on a vertical rotisserie, although homemade versions can use alternative methods. The combination of seasoned meat, warm bread and refreshing accompaniments makes it a familiar example of Greek street food.
Volkanovski has shared his own approach to preparing lamb gyros with tzatziki. His recipe combines minced lamb with onion, garlic, oregano and other seasonings before cooking the meat and slicing it thinly. The slices are then crisped and served in pita bread with vegetables and a yoghurt-based cucumber sauce.
For Volkanovski, dishes connected to his family background are another way to explore his heritage. They also allow viewers unfamiliar with Greek cooking to discover the ingredients and techniques behind popular Mediterranean meals. His approachable presentation makes the food accessible without removing its cultural connection.
Macedonia: Family Recipes Passed Down Through Generations
Volkanovski’s father is of Macedonian heritage. This gives another important influence on his cooking. Macedonian cooking shares certain things with Balkan and Mediterranean traditions, such as grilled meats, peppers, and slow-cooked dishes. Family recipes are especially important in this style of cooking.
An early episode of Cooking With Volk, from March 2021, featured Macedonian-style chicken wings and other barbecue dishes. Volkanovski explained that the recipes had been passed down by his father, giving the episode a personal connection beyond the ingredients themselves. It gave viewers an opportunity to see how his family background influences the food he prepares.
Macedonian cooking includes dishes such as kebapi, small grilled sausages made from seasoned minced meat. Ajvar, a spread commonly prepared using roasted red peppers, is another familiar accompaniment throughout the region. These foods are often enjoyed together with bread, salads and other dishes during family gatherings.
The appeal of these traditions is closely connected to sharing meals. Grilled meats and accompanying dishes can be prepared in quantities suitable for entertaining several people, making them well-suited to the informal gatherings featured in Volkanovski’s content. His enthusiasm for feeding friends and family fits comfortably with that approach.
Australia: Fresh Seafood and Outdoor Cooking
Australia gives a very different setting for Volkanovski and his culinary exploits. With its extensive coastline, barbecue culture, and fresh seafood, the country has plenty of opportunities to combine cooking and the outdoors.
One of his seafood adventures took him to Rottnest Island, off the coast of Western Australia. The episode combined fishing with preparing fresh ingredients, including fish, crayfish and scallops. It demonstrated how the experience of catching food can become part of the enjoyment of preparing and eating it.
Australian seafood lends itself to several cooking methods. Fish can be grilled over high heat, while scallops require relatively brief cooking to preserve their texture. Freshly caught seafood can also be prepared using techniques that emphasise its natural flavour, provided appropriate food safety precautions are followed.
Volkanovski’s interest in outdoor cooking goes beyond just seafood. His videos regularly feature substantial barbecue meals, including grilled meats and dishes prepared for groups of friends. The setting often contributes as much to the entertainment as the cooking itself, with conversations and activities taking place around the preparation.
His Australian background is evident in the relaxed atmosphere of these gatherings. Cooking outdoors becomes an opportunity to spend time with other people rather than an isolated kitchen activity.
Middle Eastern Cuisine: Gyros Versus Kebabs
His interest in food has also led Volkanovski to experiment with Middle Eastern cooking traditions. In September 2025, he collaborated with the former rugby player, Josh Mansour. This saw them comparing Greek gyros with Middle Eastern kebabs. The concept brought together cultural influences, familiar street foods, and a touch of friendly competition.
Although gyros and kebabs share certain characteristics, their preparation and presentation can be quite different. Both feature seasoned meat served with bread, vegetables and sauces, but the spices, cooking methods and accompaniments vary between regional traditions. Middle Eastern kebabs encompass numerous styles, including skewered grilled meats and preparations served in flatbreads.
The collaboration gave viewers an entertaining way to explore those differences. Rather than presenting the dishes through a formal demonstration, the athletes brought their personalities into the preparation. Their friendly rivalry gave viewers a reason to follow the cooking process and compare the finished results.
Food can also provide an accessible introduction to different cultures. Familiar dishes such as gyros and kebabs often share historical influences while retaining distinctive regional identities. By preparing them together, Volkanovski and Mansour demonstrated how cooking can encourage conversation about those traditions.
Cooking With Friends and Fellow UFC Fighters
Perhaps one of the most entertaining aspects of Cooking with Volk is the way that guests get involved. Volkanovski often prepares meals with friends, athletes, and other people who share his interest in food. These collaborations combine cooking with the kind of conversations that aren’t heard during typical sports interviews.
In October 2026, he published a video featuring UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili preparing burgers in Abu Dhabi. The collaboration went to show how food can bring together athletes from different backgrounds in an informal setting. Rather than concentrating entirely on training and competition, the episode allowed their personalities to take centre stage.
Another October video featured a substantial meal prepared for friends and family at Volkanovski’s property. The gathering included traditional foods such as ćevapi and ajvar, alongside the social atmosphere that characterises many of his cooking experiences. Fellow UFC champion Israel Adesanya was among the personalities associated with the episode.
These collaborations reveal a side of professional fighters that audiences just don’t get to see during major events. Away from competition, athletes can share stories, exchange cooking ideas and enjoy meals together. Volkanovski’s ability to make guests comfortable has become an important part of the series.
From the Kitchen to the Octagon
Food plays a big and important role in Volkanovski’s professional life as well as being a hobby. Competing in the UFC means that he has to give special attention to nutrition and tracking. As a featherweight, he also needs to keep an eye on his weight. His dietary requirements can change massively depending on if he’s training for a fight or taking time out between bouts.
During training camps, professional fighters need to balance their energy requirements with the need to meet their contracted weight limits. Meals may be planned around training sessions, recovery and individual nutritional requirements. The final stages of preparation can involve additional restrictions under the supervision of experienced professionals.
Volkanovski’s cooking videos give us an interesting contrast to those demands. His substantial barbecue meals, burgers and international dishes show his enjoyment of food outside the strict routines associated with competition.
Fans studying UFC predictions & picks may concentrate on his striking, wrestling and previous performances, but nutrition and physical preparation are also important parts of a fighter’s professional routine. Volkanovski’s success has required years of disciplined training and careful preparation for different opponents. His cooking activities provide a glimpse into how he enjoys food while maintaining the demands of an elite sporting career.
Dagestan: A Future Cooking Adventure With Islam Makhachev
One of Volkanovski’s most interesting potential culinary adventures involves Islam Makhachev. The two met twice in 2023, with Makhachev winning each time as Volkanovski tried to take the lightweight championship title. Regardless of any professional rivalry, they have always had mutual respect.
In October 2026, Volkanovski discussed plans to visit Makhachev in Dagestan for an outdoor adventure involving hunting, horseback riding and cooking. The proposed experience would take place in the region’s mountainous surroundings, with the pair preparing food over an open wood fire. Volkanovski has expressed real enthusiasm about making the collaboration happen.
A Different Side of Alexander Volkanovski
Volkanovski’s cooking adventures are a real established part of his public identity. His Greek and Macedonian heritage gives him access to traditional family recipes, while at the same time, his Australian background encourages outdoor cooking and recipes rich in seafood. International travel and collaborations have brought in additional cuisines, ingredients, and traditions.
The success of Cooking With Volk demonstrates that audiences are interested in seeing professional athletes pursue their personal interests. Viewers can discover recipes, enjoy entertaining conversations and follow experiences that have little connection to championship fights. Volkanovski’s relaxed presentation makes those activities accessible to people who may never have watched a UFC event.
From preparing Macedonian chicken wings to exploring Thai street food and planning an adventure in Dagestan, Volkanovski continues to find opportunities to combine cooking with travel and friendship. His fighting achievements may have made him famous, but his enthusiasm for food has introduced audiences to another side of his personality. For those following his culinary journey, there’s always another dish, destination or guest waiting to be discovered.