UFC featherweight Alex Volkanovski thrives where others break. 

The 16-1 Australian heads into his UFC 221 matchup vs. the undefeated Jeremy Kennedy in Perth, Australia, this Saturday full of confidence — and for good reason. 

At 3-0 in his UFC career, Volkanovski is primed to make some serious moves in the 145-pound class in 2018, and he's training as if gold is on the line each and every time out. 

"I do shark tanks with very high-level guys, and with the two minutes, I’m doing three two-minute rounds in a row," Volkanovski told FloCombat. "So they’re six-minute rounds with three different people. I’ll wear them out in that two minutes. 

"It will be very hard for him [Kennedy] to keep a pressure that three fresh, high-level guys can do... You’re meant to lose in training as well. I try and lose. In saying that, I do really well. It’s hard to beat me, even when it’s three on one." 

While the rounds upon rounds of practice come with their fair share of difficulties, arranging a time and a place to face Kennedy at all might have been even harder. 

The matchup was originally booked for UFC Fight Night 121 in November, but Kennedy pulled out of the fight with an injury. Volkanovski, wanting to stay on the card, was rebooked vs. Humberto Bandenay. 

Bandenay got injured. 

Volkanovski was re-rebooked, this time against Drex Zamboanga. 

Zamboanga had visa issues and couldn't make it to the fight. 

A third new opponent, Shane Young, eventually stepped in, and Volkanovski soundly defeated him via unanimous decision. And while that circus may have affected a lesser-prepared fighter, Volkanovski shrugs it off as he finally heads into a matchup against Kennedy. 

"Oh, mate, there’s still time to go, so you never know," Volkanovski said with a laugh. "It is a good feeling [to have a full camp in for a known opponent] but at the end of the day, when I fight, when I’m training, if I get a southpaw, I’m not going to say, ‘No, no, my opponent’s not southpaw, can’t train with you.’ I don’t care. I’m going to train with whoever because you never know what happens. It could be an opponent change a couple of days out. You never really know." 

At 11-0, Kennedy is not someone to take lightly, and that's a point Volkanovski recognizes. While neither fighter is currently ranked in the UFC's official 145-pound rankings, Volkanovski sees this as an eliminator of sorts. 

"Yeah, I reckon that’s exactly what’s happening, the winner obviously will get the right to fight top 10 contenders," Volkanovski said. "Obviously, he got injured [last time], I fought, I won, I looked at this [rematch] at the start when he was trying to call me out, and I’m like, ‘Mate. Unfortunately, you got injured. I’m moving forward.’ 

"That’s sort of how it was, but this is what [UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby wanted. Again, I want to shoot for these ranks. And if fighting him is going to get me a ranked opponent after it, that’s what I want." 

With Volkanovski, there's always a goal beyond the immediate future. The father and husband understands the beauty of a well-executed plan, and he's not one to leave things to chance. With a family to support and a career to forge, Volkanovski is slowly growing tired of the unranked fights and the risky matchups. 

Robert Whittaker, the current UFC middleweight champion, became the first Australian to hoist gold inside the Octagon, and now Volkanovski is ready to notch a second for the land Down Under. 

"He’s [Whittaker has] definitely paved a good way for us, but I’m next," Volkanovski said. "I believe I’m next. I think I’m going to be taking the belt within the next two years. He beat me to it, but he deserves it, he’s been killing it for so long. But now it’s my turn after that." 

Whittaker defeated Yoel Romero at UFC 213 to win the then-interim 185-pound championship. Georges St-Pierre then wiped out Michael Bisping for the official title at UFC 217 but soon after relinquished the belt, citing health issues. This promoted Whittaker to "undisputed champion" status, and the entire process drew eyes to MMA in Australia like nothing before. 

"It’s unreal. I’m very supportive and I know Robert, so I’m a massive fan," Volkanovski said. "I’m definitely cheering for him. But at the same time, even before that was happening, that was my goal. I always planned on shooting through the ranks even before he was up there. 

"It definitely shows the rest of Australia that we got champions in our country. In that case, people can believe in me. Some of the people used to think that Aussie fighters were just in there to make numbers, you know what I mean? But we’re going to make champions." 

For Volkanovski, the road to that championship goes through Kennedy, and he knows he'll need to make a statement in Perth to fulfill his prophecy. Should he get the victory, he'll become the first loss on Kennedy's record, which, for most fighters, would add a little extra incentive to the showdown. 

Volkanovski, however, doesn't get caught up in that narrative. He admits any win is a good one, but he remains laser-focused on the threat Kennedy brings. 

"I’m a nice guy, so I kind of look at it like, yeah, it’s unfortunate for him, he’s going to have to be 11-1," Volkanovski said. "He’s going to have that loss. I guess I don’t really feel bad. I’ve got to do my thing. But you can’t have a perfect record forever. 

"Unfortunately for him, I’m going to be taking that zero. But it’s a tough fight. I know he’s a grinder. I know I’m in for a fight. If I go in there half-assed, he’s going to really put it to me. I’m going to be prepared for war." 

By Hunter Homistek