UFC star Alexander Volkanovski has detailed plans for a rugged mountain adventure in Dagestan featuring horseback hunting and open-fire cooking alongside former rival Islam Makhachev, even as he prepares for his featherweight title defense at UFC 333 on October 24, 2026.
Alexander Volkanovski wants to take his YouTube channel Cooking With Volk
far away from the bright lights of the Octagon and deep into the Dagestan mountains for a traditional outdoor expedition. The 38-year-old Australian fighter outlined the concept during an interview with Michael Babcock, naming the reigning UFC welterweight champion as his dream collaborator for the food series.
Rather than a standard culinary studio, the proposed episode would involve riding horses through rugged terrain to hunt for food, camping out in the wilderness, and preparing whatever they catch over an open wood fire. Volkanovski made it clear that the excursion goes beyond a casual thought experiment when speaking with interviewers.
I’m going to go to Dagestan, in the mountains, horseback hunting, catching whatever we catch and then cooking it, literally over a wood fire, camping out. This is something we’ve already planned. I’m telling you, it’s going to happen. We’re going to do it.
Alexander Volkanovski, UFC fighter and content creator
The Australian is preparing for another major UFC challenge while also exploring opportunities outside MMA, recently attending the Sydney premiere of the live-action Street Fighter movie in which he plays Joe alongside a cast that includes Jason Momoa and Noah Centineo.
Octagon History Between Volkanovski and Makhachev
The proposed collaboration highlights a notable shift from bitter competition to mutual respect. Volkanovski and Makhachev previously fought twice for the UFC lightweight title, with Makhachev winning both encounters. At UFC 284 in Perth in February 2023, Volkanovski moved up from featherweight to challenge for the belt. Volkanovski finished that bout strongly, hurting the champion late and ending the final round on top, and the promotion’s writers later ranked their first meeting as the best fight of 2023.
🔥👨🍳 Alexander Volkanovski plans to travel to Dagestan for a wild ‘Cooking with Volk’ episode with Makhachev:“I’m gonna go to Dagestan, into the mountains, hunting on horseback [with Islam], catching whatever we catch, and cooking it.” 😳(via @TMZ_Sports)…
The rematch came at UFC 294 on October 21 that year.
Cooking With Volk Expansion and Past Collaborations
Israel Adesanya previously appeared on the channel to make kangaroo burgers in a video published on June 19, 2022, which was filmed during their preparations for UFC 276 when Volkanovski was due to face Max Holloway and Adesanya was preparing to fight Jared Cannonier. Merab Dvalishvili joined the series to whip up a massive spread that included surf-and-turf burgers with roasted bone marrow, while a September 2022 collaboration with Hasbulla took place at Royal Stacks in Melbourne.
Volkanovski also wants to fight Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title superfight before they both retire, calling for the matchup on the WhoTheFookPod podcast.
UFC 333 Preparations in Abu Dhabi
Before any wilderness expedition takes place, Volkanovski faces an immediate athletic test inside the cage. The card takes place on October 24, 2026, marking the next major challenge for the 38-year-old Australian as he continues to fight the best of the best.
