Volkanovski skewers UFC fighter pay ahead of title defence against Evloev at UFC 333

Alexander Volkanovski is preparing to defend his UFC featherweight title against the undefeated Movsar Evloev in the main event of UFC 333 on Oct. 24, but the Australian champion has found time to take a swing at Dana White and the sport’s long-running fighter pay debate — through the medium of comedy.

In a new short film skit, Volkanovski stars in a series of fake movie parodies, including a send-up of ancient epic Alexander the Great, a space adventure titled Going the Distance, a James Bond spoof called Submission Impossible, and a Miami Vice parody dubbed Miami KO. The clip also sees the return of recurring character Beverly, this time cast as Volkanovski’s no-nonsense agent.

The sharpest line lands when Beverly dismisses one of Volkanovski’s fictional passion projects as a financial failure — only for the champion to note it “still made more than what Dana pays,” a direct shot at UFC CEO Dana White and the persistent criticism over fighter compensation in the sport.

Volkanovski also leans into his rivalry history for laughs. Asked whether he looks like he has “seen the horrors of war,” he deadpans: “I’ve seen Islam Makhachev. Twice” — a nod to his two closely contested bouts with the lightweight champion, both of which went the distance.

The skit also riffs on the recent Hollywood blockbuster The Odyssey, with Volkanovski quipping about Matt Damon and director Christopher Nolan: “When I saw Matt Damon do Odyssey with ‘Nolesy’, I’m like, mate, let’s get the Greeks to show you how it’s really done.”

Beyond the octagon, Volkanovski is set to appear on the actual big screen this weekend as part of the ensemble cast in the Street Fighter reboot, which premieres worldwide ahead of his UFC 333 main event.