When it comes to Alexander Volkanovski, the featherweight champion has rocked audiences with his stellar performances inside the Octagon. Outside the cage, though, the Aussie has also gained popularity for his cooking videos on social media, showing a completely different side of his personality. Those layers add to the legend of his career. Still, ‘The Great’ never been known for flashy tattoos, which is exactly why fans have grown curious about the ink he does have.

After reclaiming the featherweight title last year at UFC 314, ‘The Great’ is set to return in 2026. He now eyes a title defense at UFC 325, which will mark the second event under the Paramount+ CBS era. At 37 years old, the New South Wales native looks to kick off his second reign at 145 pounds against a familiar foe in Diego Lopes, doing so in front of his home crowd in Sydney. But before Volkanovski makes a return to action on January 31, 2026, February 1 in Australia, let’s take a closer look at his tattoos and the stories behind them. 

What is the meaning of Alexander Volkanovski’s back tattoo? 

When it comes to Alexander Volkanovski’s back tattoo, he keeps things simple. While former rival Max Holloway’s devil and angel wings stand out during fights, the reigning featherweight champion sports a plain cross with minimal detailing on his back, reflecting his religious beliefs. 

Despite his Greek heritage, ‘The Great’ and his family practice Orthodox Christianity and observe all major Christian holidays. Highlighting his faith, Volkanovski shared a photo of himself celebrating Easter with his family and captioned it “Happy Orthodox Easter.” That belief explains why he chose to ink a cross on his back as a quiet but clear expression of devotion. Still, it ranks far from the most eye-catching artwork on his body.

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However, beyond his back, Volkanovski carries tattoos on several other parts of his body, and each one comes with an interesting story behind it.   

Are there any Other tattoos on Alexander Volkanovski’s body 

Other than the simple back tattoo, ‘The Great’ also has a striking Chinese dragon tattoo that starts on his right shoulder and runs all the way down to his wrist. The immaculately drawn dragon also features black, tribal inspired designs, creating a sharp visual contrast. Yet, despite being one of the best pieces of artwork on his body, the featherweight champion does not seem particularly fond of it.

“My first tattoo was this one that I’ve been trying to cover up for years. I’m still trying to cover it up; I don’t even know what you would call it. I got this tattoo, and I remember the missus got me a tattoo voucher. I remember going in there, trying to find something because there was only a certain amount of money,” Volkanovski told Sporting News Australia in 2022.

“I was with a couple of mates, and they were getting frustrated, like, ‘Hurry up!’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’ll do,’ so I just walked out. I said, ‘Yeah, that’ll do,’ and locked it in. I literally got the tattoo, walked out, and thought, ‘What the hell have I done?’” he added.

Apart from the back tattoo and the Chinese dragon, Volkanovski also revealed in an interview with The Fatherhood that he once had a “family” tattoo, which he got before having children. Over the years, though, he appears to have covered it up, as it is no longer visible. Overall, the 145-pound champion does not have many tattoos, but the ones he has have become iconic in their own way. 

That said, as Alexander Volkanovski looks ahead to defending his belt for the first time in his second reign, can he once again overcome the challenge of Diego Lopes? Let us know in the comments section below.