"It just shows you that they've been right the whole time. They've believed in me."
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He holds the UFC's world featherweight title belt and Alex Volkanovski has capped his stellar 2019 with one more victory.
The Shellharbour product has been named Illawarra Mercury's Sportsperson of the Year, edging out the likes of Illawarra Hawks young gun LaMelo Ball and athletics star Jessica Hull.
Past winners include Ali Day (surf lifesaving) and Kezie Apps (rugby league).
The win complements Volkanovski twice being named the Mercury's Sportsperson of the Year People's Choice winner (in 2016 and 2018).
Volkanovski was recognised for an exceptional year, highlighted by beating Max Holloway to be crowned UFC's new featherweight champion on December 15.
The 31-year-old, who trains out of Windang's Freestyle Fighting Gym, said it "means a lot to me" to win the Sportsperson of the Year award and he was honoured to bring home the UFC belt.
"I think I've got it [People's Choice] twice before. It just shows you that they've been right the whole time," he said. "They've believed in me and look what we get to bring back. I've accomplished what everyone's believed in me for a while now.
"Those people that voted for me the last couple of years will definitely be proud of me. The support in the Illawarra has been unreal the whole time."
Volkanovski delivered two victories this year and, boy, were they impressive.
He convincingly beat former UFC feathweight champion Jose Aldo in May, winning all three rounds.
The NSW south coast fighter then defeated Holloway in five rounds earlier this month. He had landed the most leg kicks in featherweight history by the end of four rounds.
Volkanovski has a lot of respect for Holloway but said he planned on being the UFC's featherweight champion for "a long time".
"He's a respectful champion and so am I. I'm a respectful bloke so there was never going to be real bad blood," the former Warilla Gorilla told the Mercury.
"There's been some great champions in this division, Aldo, then Max and me. And I plan on being a champion for a long time as well.
"From day one, even before I was professional. I've always said that I believe I'd be champion. Now, I've achieved what I said I was going to do a long time ago."
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
