It's been a common refrain for UFC featherweight contender Alex Volkanovski throughout his career - he should probably get it on a t-shirt.

You can bet his legion of fans in the Illawarra and beyond would buy them in droves. In a sport built on it, it's more than just talk, the former Warilla Gorilla walks it.

Three-time contender Chad Mendes was supposed to be a bridge too far; future hall-of-famer Jose Aldo in his native Brazil was to. The 31-year-old dispatched both.

He's confident he can do the same to the division's long-reigning king Max Holloway on Sunday. It'd a be a dream come true for most fighters but for Volkanvski, it's just a best laid plan.

"I always knew I'd be here," Volkanovski said

"Even in those really early days, being in the gym and training with high level guys and holding my own, I always knew I was something special.

"I'd wrestle with guys twice my size and they couldn't believe my strength. I always knew I was that little bit different. I always knew I had that extra strength and I wasn't just your ordinary bloke.

"Once you get in the UFC and start taking out guys there you start to realise 'now I'm going out here and making this look easy as well'. That's when I knew I was a different beast and a force to be reckoned with."

That self-belief has never wavered no matter what opponent is placed in front of him, Holloway - who hasn't lost at featherweight since 2013 - included.

"Since he's been champ I've always had my eye on him because I always knew I was going to get there," Volkanovski said.

"I always knew I was going to get to that belt and whoever had it I was going to have my focus on. [The title] could've changed hands but I was paying attention nice and early.

"The fighter I was three years ago would've given Max problems. I really do believe that but, right now, I'm levels above [that]. Right now I'm more confident that ever.

"I've always been confident but these last couple of fights have really boosted my confidence again. I've put the hard yards in and I can't wait to show the world what we've said for the last 12 weeks."

Holloway has been a busy champion since dethroning Aldo in 2017, defeating the Brazilian legend in a rematch, brutalising Brian Ortega and defeating future hall-of-famer Frankie Edgar in his next two outings at featherweight.

Many thought Volkanovski deserved his shot before Edgar, ideally at UFC 243 in Melbourne, but he said the wait simply makes him a tougher prospect for the Hawaiian champion.

"If anything it was worse for him," Volkanovski said.

"It just gave me more time to prepare for him and let me evolve more and more as a fighter. I'm getting better day in, day out. It just gave me those few extra months.

"I'm always fit, I'm always in good nick but obviously, being a title fight against Max, it's given me that extra bit of motivation. These hard sessions I'm always doing... I'm pushing that little bit more.

"I want to peak at the right time and that's exactly where I'm headed. My preparation's been unreal, we've put the hard work in and we're ready to roll."