Wellโฆ the catโs out of the bag now. Or more appropriately, B.H. Magazineโs inaugural cover star has been officially revealed. And itโs Australiaโs two-time UFC Featherweight Champion:
Alexander Volkanovski.
At an after-hours event hosted by our good friends at Hublot Australia, unified womenโs bantamweight boxing champion Cherneka โSugar Neekzโ Johnson, Last King of the Cross star Lincoln Younes, Sean Sagar (Guy Ritchieโs The Covenant. NCIS: Sydney), and plenty more esteemed guests flooded the watch brandโs King St boutique for an evening to remember.
There, the curtains were physically pulled back by Volkanovski himself on B.H. Magazine Volume 5โs cover โ conceived by Editor-in-Chief James Want and executed to perfection by photography extraordinaire/serial B.H. collaborator Charles Grant.
โNothing beats the cover, I think that shot is definitely my favourite,โ remarked Alexander Volkanovski.
โIt was quite fashionable,โ he went on to admit in regards to the sheer breadth of โlooksโ styled on him throughout that six-hour shoot. Guy Ritchie-esque flair, leather kilts, and all.
โAt the start, I was like, โThese probably wonโt be my everyday clothes.โ Then I would see the photos throughout the day, and Iโd go, โOh wow, they look incredible.โ So I was quite pumped to see how it turned outโฆ It was a great experience, really enjoyed it. You guys were great to work with. Always great to work with Hublot as well, so itโs been unreal.โ
A major theme of the cover story involves the moment he reclaimed the featherweight title at Miamiโs UFC 314 after a rollercoaster 18-month journey instigated by consecutive knockout losses. Staring down the barrel of the camera with the conviction of a man reborn, Volkanovski proclaimed, โAdversity is a privilege.โ A marketerโs dream if there ever was one.
โIt was something that I just thought of on the spot, but I mean, that was through all the experiences through my whole career,โ he explained.
โWhat gets me through that is all the adversities in the gym, all the adversities of the other fights that Iโve had, all them experiencesโฆ and me having to push through them is the reason why I can get through adversities in the fight. And thatโs why you can see me get back on top and take that win.โ
โWeโre not going to like the adversities when theyโre there, but at least we know once we get through, weโre going to be stronger.โ
Alexander Volkanovski continued when prompted about his professional evolution: โIf you asked me 10 or 15 years ago, while I was chasing the dream or even while I was just going through my career, I wouldnโt have thought Iโd be in a position where I would be sponsored by Hublot, or on the front cover of Boss Hunting. It just shows you how far Iโve come, you know what I mean?โ
โA lot of people ask me, โWhatโs your greatest accomplishment?โ And Iโd probably say that I was able to be me through the whole process, and thatโs worked out so well, because now you get the loyal support and all that. Iโve been in a position where people like you want to work with meโฆ So itโs all paid off.โ
This unique profession of ours has afforded us many an opportunity to interact with the endlessly accomplished. Titans of their respective fields that, if weโre being entirely honest, we probably have no business being in the same room with.
But B.H. Magazine Volume 5 was an even rarer privilege โ profiling somebody we admire so deeply (beyond an objective level of respect); somebody who exemplifies the greatest aspects of modern masculinity; and most of all, a man who makes us proud to be Australian.
How bloody good.
Order your very own copy of our latest issue to read the profile itself and subscribe to B.H. Magazine for future editions via the link below.
