Illawarra's Thicknesse fights alongside mentor Volkanovski at UFC 333
Bantamweight Colby Thicknesse, trained by featherweight champion Volkanovski since age 11, fights on UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Thicknesse grew up watching Volkanovski rise through the UFC ranks at their shared gym, Freestyle MMA in Windang, near Wollongong. At 11 years old, he began training under the future champion and has been his teammate ever since.
Now 27, Thicknesse is a bantamweight building his own career, while Volkanovski, 38, remains the featherweight champion. Thicknesse and Volkanovski will compete on UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Volkanovski is defending his belt against Movsar Evloev. Thicknesse's relationship with his mentor extends beyond the gym: they spar during fight camps and trade banter at press conferences.
Volkanovski's longtime coach Joe Lopez said the gym's energy reflects a winning culture. Volkanovski has also stepped into acting recently, appearing in Street Fighter, but his immediate focus is defending his title.
- 27
- Thicknesse's age
- Age 11
- Training started
- 38
- Volkanovski's age
- Freestyle MMA, Windang
- Gym location
Why it mattersRising fighters gain real advantage training alongside champions who understand the demands of elite competition and can model the discipline and sacrifice needed to reach the top.
AustraliaTwo Australian fighters, one a reigning champion, one a rising prospect, are competing on one of the year's biggest UFC cards, raising the global profile of Australian mixed martial arts.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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