The Herd with Colin Cowherd: The Daniel Cormier Show

Guest: Alexander Volkanovski
Date: January 30, 2026
Key Theme:
A deep-dive conversation between Daniel Cormier (joined by Joe Rogan for much of the discussion) and UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. They explore his return to the championship, his mindset after setbacks, the upcoming rematch with Diego Lopes, the evolution of his career—including his popular “Cooking with Volk” series—and his thoughts on legacy, aging in MMA, and what motivates him to keep competing at the highest level.

Main Discussion Topics & Key Insights

1. “Cooking with Volk”: Volkanovski’s Newfound Identity Beyond Fighting

• Family Roots & Cooking Passion
  • Volkanovski talks about growing up in a family where food and barbecues were central.

    “All the family barbecues… they used to get the lamb and pigs on the rotisseries… big family barbecues. And I would always help… and that’s sort of where I found a love for it.” — Volkanovski (02:44)

• Transition to Social Media & Success
  • Started recording cooking videos during fight camps, which quickly became fan favorites.

    “Some of my most viewed videos at the time... Even just chicken wings with chips on them, getting millions of views.” — Volkanovski (03:30)

  • Discusses launching “Cooking with Volk” as a separate media brand and being surprised at its success.

    “You’ve got a million followers on Cooking with Volk… I can’t imagine you thought it would be that successful.” — Joe Rogan (03:48)

• Team Support
  • Credits his team for making content creation possible alongside fight training.

2. Overcoming Setbacks and Championship Mindset

• Regaining the Title After Adversity
  • Reflects on his journey back from KO losses and a long layoff.

    “It wasn’t just being champion… I love when challenges come your way… For me to be able to accomplish that, that means so much to me.” — Volkanovski (05:27)

• Fighting as the Underdog
  • Embraces being doubted—relates underdog mentality to his earlier rugby league days.

    “I’ve always had that underdog mentality… Even when I played rugby league, I was tiny… so you would have people laughing at me.” — Volkanovski (06:50/07:06)

• Finding Motivation as a Veteran
  • Explores finding new motivations after years of dominance, referencing Michael Jordan’s ability to “create” slights for motivation.

    “I almost put my opponents on a pedestal… focus on their best performance they can give me troubles here and you can find your way around it.” — Volkanovski (07:43)

  • Now feels he doesn’t need to manufacture motivation:

    “Now I don’t have to fake anything. The doubt is there, and it should be, but I believe that I’m going to get through and I’ll show you.” — Volkanovski (08:23)

3. The Diego Lopes Rematch: Tactical Adjustments & Fight IQ

• First Fight Analysis & Adjustments

  • Volkanovski notes Diego Lopes’ unexpectedly measured approach but attributes this to his own game plan.

    “If he did a little better job of cutting off and getting himself in front of me… maybe he could have put himself more in that position… But when I did get caught in front of him, we drilled a lot of certain combos.” — Volkanovski (09:58)

• Expectations for the Rematch

  • Preparing for both an “adjusted” Lopes and the same opponent as before; stresses importance of his own fight IQ.

    “I’m preparing for a Diego that’s made the right adjustments, and I’m preparing for the same Diego as well…” — Volkanovski (10:50)

  • On the margins of tactical error:

    “It isn’t just as simple as cutting off. You do it wrong, you could put yourself in serious danger.” — Volkanovski (10:50)

• Surprise at Immediate Rematch

  • Describes the unpredictable process of title challenger selection, expecting other contenders but preparing anyway.

    “At first I wanted [Movsar] straight after my fight… Then it was Lerone… and then Lopez ended up winning… By the time it was announced, it’s like I was already preparing for him…” — Volkanovski (11:51–13:41)

4. Physicality, Aging, and Career Longevity in MMA

• Effects of Age and Weight Class
  • Rogan and Volkanovski discuss perceptions around fighters aging, especially at lower weight classes.

    “At 37, you shouldn’t start to feel those ways. Unless fighting is just way different down at the lower weight classes.” — Joe Rogan (18:29)

  • Volkanovski acknowledges he has to make training adjustments, but relies on his experience and fight IQ.

    “My intensity is still there, so I’m still trying just as hard, but maybe the volume comes down… now I can rely on the experience, fight IQ…” — Volkanovski (19:54)

• Prime and Athletic Decline
  • He notes that smaller fighters tend to peak younger, while heavyweights can compete at a high level later.

5. Retirement Talk & Legacy Goals

• Addressing Retirement Speculation
  • Responds candidly to suggestions he may soon retire, clarifies he’s not ready to leave.

    “People talk about maybe Volkanovski will retire this year… that conversation [isn’t] a part of your reality right now, is it?” — Joe Rogan (20:10/20:32) “No, exactly right… I want to go out this fight, not take damage and have a quick turnaround… That’s my plans.” — Volkanovski (20:32)

  • He’s a realist but still driven by the desire to compete at the highest level.

    “I’ll talk, I don’t sit there and just pretend… but I plan on winning and continuing that on.” — Volkanovski (21:28)

  • Puts health and legacy above money:

    “If you’re struggling, you know, I don’t want to be that guy… just taking damage after damage… I ain’t hanging around, you know what I mean?” — Volkanovski (22:16/22:34)

6. Final Fight Predictions & Message for Fans

• What to Expect in the Rematch
  • Volkanovski aims to be “even more dominant,” take less damage, and reassert his primacy.

    “He did have his moments. I don’t want him to have his moments. This one… I want to go out there and take minimal damage… and really set a statement and show people that I’m still that guy.” — Volkanovski (16:51)

  • Predicts that Lopes will be more aggressive, which could play into Volk’s strengths:

    “[Lopez is] going to bring it… Even if he’s thinking he’s going to try and use footwork… that’s going to go even worse for him. He should know that his chances are to knock me out. That’s going to open a lot of doors for me, but I think I can do this in better fashion.” — Volkanovski (23:07)

• On Legacy and the Future
  • Volkanovski promises to continue fighting only at championship level and not linger past his prime.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On tough comebacks:
  “It wasn’t just being champion. I love when there’s challenges… For me to be able to accomplish that, that’s means so much to me.” — Volkanovski (05:27)

• On being doubted:
  “I’ve always had that underdog mentality… Always felt like I had to prove myself, and I’ve started to realize I do my best work when it’s like that.” — Volkanovski (06:50/07:06)

• On tactical evolution:
  "Even when I feel like I am the favorite… I almost put my opponents on a pedestal... now it's… easy for me because... I am the old guy." — Volkanovski (08:23)

• On legacy and fighting for more than money:
  “You see people that are just taking damage after damage… I ain’t hanging around, you know what I mean? … Your health is big as well.” — Volkanovski (22:16/22:34)

• On his plan for the fight & future:
  “I want to go out there and take minimal damage, go out there and really set a statement and show people that I’m still that guy... And then I want a quick, reasonably quick turnaround to fight Laro Murphy or Movza.” — Volkanovski (16:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cooking and social media identity: 01:20 – 04:59
• Championship mindset and comeback: 04:59 – 06:50
• Underdog mentality and motivation: 06:50 – 08:23
• Lopes rematch tactics & fight IQ: 09:20 – 11:51
• Title challenger selection chaos: 11:51 – 13:41
• Aging, fight longevity & physicality: 17:38 – 19:54
• Retirement rumors & legacy: 20:10 – 22:48
• Expectations for the rematch & closing statements: 23:00 – end

Closing Note

This episode offers an intimate look at Alexander Volkanovski’s mentality as a champion dealing with adversity, his growth outside of the cage, and his mindful approach to aging and legacy. Whether chatting about barbecuing with family or dissecting psychological and tactical nuances in title fights, Volkanovski remains grounded and relentlessly competitive.

Fans can expect a more calculated, possibly more dominant Volkanovski in the rematch with Diego Lopes—and continued dedication to excellence inside and outside the Octagon.