It is Official: Alexander Volkanovski x Rainbet is the Next Big UFC Collab

Alexander Volkanovski has added another remarkable chapter to his career following his spectacular victory at UFC 333. The result reinforced his position among the greatest featherweights in mixed martial arts history. At 38, the Australian MMA star continues to demonstrate that experience, technical intelligence, and an almost relentless appetite for difficult challenges can remain powerful advantages at the highest level of the sport. Just before the event, he had done something for his sponsorship career. 

The Rainbet deal adds a commercial dimension to his new success. Fighter partnerships have become an increasingly visible part of the modern UFC landscape. They connect athletes with brands that want to reach audiences through personalities who have already built enormous followings inside and outside the Octagon. For Volkanovski, whose reputation extends well beyond his championship record, such a partnership represents another opportunity to expand his public profile and grow his brand.

Another Statement of Greatness at UFC 333

Volkanovski entered UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24 with a difficult assignment. Across the Octagon stood Movsar Evloev, an undefeated Russian contender whose wrestling, positional control, and pressure had made him one of the most challenging matchups in the featherweight division. For the champion, the bout represented another opportunity to prove that his experience and adaptability could overcome one of the division’s most dangerous emerging talents.

The fight ended in spectacular fashion. Volkanovski stopped Evloev by technical knockout at 4:54 of the second round, handing the Russian his first professional defeat. After a competitive opening round, the champion found the decisive opening with a clean right hand. Evloev began retreating, and Volkanovski immediately pursued him, landing a succession of strikes that forced the referee to intervene. It was a finish that demonstrated both his precision and his ability to recognise the moment when an opponent becomes vulnerable.

Another successful title defence moved him ahead of José Aldo for the most successful title fight victories in UFC featherweight history. It also strengthened his position in the debate over the greatest fighter ever to compete at 145 pounds. At 38, he remains capable of defeating elite opponents who possess the physical attributes and technical skills that might ordinarily be expected to trouble a champion with such a long career.

The result also demonstrated that Volkanovski’s game has continued to evolve. His success has never depended exclusively on power or athleticism. Instead, he combines footwork, distance management, defensive awareness, and intelligent combinations with the ability to make adjustments during a fight. Against Evloev, that ability to recognise an opening and turn it into a decisive finish proved crucial.

For Rainbet, a partnership with Volkanovski arrives at an especially compelling moment. A fighter coming off a championship performance of this magnitude has an immediate news hook, renewed visibility and a story that appeals to both established MMA followers and more casual sports fans. The online crypto casino and betting platform knows exactly when to strike big name deals that benefit all sides. For the fans, the latest UFC betting odds including him should be a lot more tempting.  

The Rainbet Deal and the Instagram Promotional Video

The Volkanovski-Rainbet partnership fits into a wider commercial trend in which betting and gaming companies increasingly work with individual athletes rather than relying exclusively on conventional advertising. As a very recognisable fighter, he can provide the brand with a distinctive public identity. On the other hand, the athlete gains another platform for reaching audiences outside the sporting arena.

However, the specific details of Volkanovski’s reported agreement could not be independently established through the available reporting. There is no verified information on financial terms, although some speculation claims $30 million. The duration, specific ambassador responsibilities, and any exclusive promotional obligations or arrangements remain undisclosed. 

A day before UFC 333, Volkanovski shared an intriguing video on his Instagram account where he announced the collaboration. “It’s always been about one thing,” opens Alex, and continues, “and that’s coming out on top, because every worthy challenge has risk. And that’s why I choose Rainbet!” With the “Make it rain with Rainbet” caption, we see him climb a mountain, spar as he trains, jump with a parachute, and literally rain money onto the fans. “Choose Rainbet, make it rain,” says the champion to sign it off.  

Alexander Volkanovski’s Career in Retrospect

Volkanovski’s rise is unusual even by professional MMA standards. Born in Wollongong, New South Wales, he initially pursued rugby league and began training in mixed martial arts to maintain his fitness during the offseason. What began as supplementary training eventually became his principal sporting pursuit.

He turned professional in 2012 and entered the UFC in 2016. Initially competing at higher weights, he ultimately established himself at featherweight, where his physical strength, conditioning, and ability to dictate exchanges became significant advantages. His climb through the division included victories over established names such as Chad Mendes and Jose Aldo, positioning him for a championship opportunity.

That opportunity arrived at UFC 245 in December 2019, when he defeated Max Holloway by unanimous decision to capture the featherweight title. Volkanovski subsequently defended the championship against Holloway in a closely contested rematch, before facing Brian Ortega and the Korean Zombie, Chan Sung Jung. These performances established him as a champion who could solve very different technical problems.

His trilogy with Holloway became one of the defining rivalries of his career. Their fights tested Volkanovski’s distance control, striking defence, and ability to maintain tactical discipline against an opponent capable of producing sustained offensive combinations. His victory in their third encounter further strengthened his reputation as one of the division’s most complete fighters.

Volkanovski also attempted to establish himself at lightweight and challenged Islam Makhachev twice. He lost their first encounter by unanimous decision at UFC 284 in February 2023, then suffered a first round knockout defeat in their rematch at UFC 294. The second loss was particularly difficult, but it did not erase his achievements at featherweight. Instead, it illustrated the risks involved in competing against elite opponents across weight classes.

His featherweight reign subsequently suffered another major setback when Ilia Topuria knocked him out at UFC 298 in February 2024. For a champion who had built his reputation on consistency, the defeat raised legitimate questions about what remained possible in the latter stages of his career.

Volkanovski responded by returning to the championship picture. He defeated Diego Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 314 in April 2025 to reclaim the featherweight title, then retained it against Lopes in their rematch at UFC 325 in January 2026. The victory over Evloev at UFC 333 continued that resurgence with another successful defense of his belt, a feat that every true champion aims to do after capturing the title they hoped they would. 

Rainbet’s MMA Ambassadors So Far 

Alexander Volkanovski is the latest, and not the first, UFC star who has been signed by the popular crypto casino and sportsbook hybrid platform. Before him, quite a few big names have joined the growing list of athletes under Rainbet’s umbrella. With Alex, the group now boasts an even more fearsome lineup. Here is who came before: 

Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje is one of the most recognisable UFC fighters associated with Rainbet. Known as “The Highlight,” the American lightweight has built his reputation around aggressive striking, exceptional toughness, and a willingness to engage in demanding exchanges.

Gaethje’s fighting style has consistently made him a prominent figure on major UFC cards. His career includes victories over Tony Ferguson, Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler, and Rafael Fiziev, alongside championship opportunities that have tested him against the best lightweight competitors of his era. His knockout victory over Poirier at UFC 291 earned him the BMF title, while his subsequent fights continued to reinforce his reputation as an unusually entertaining and dangerous opponent.

In 2026, Gaethje added further achievements to his record. He defeated Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision at UFC 324 to win the interim lightweight championship, before stopping Ilia Topuria through a corner stoppage at UFC Freedom 250 in June. The latter victory marked a major moment in his career and strengthened his position among the division’s leading names. His appeal for a brand name like Rainbet is straightforward and makes sense from a business standpoint. He is an established contender with a recognisable fighting style and a history of high profile matchups. 

From a marketing perspective, Gaethje represents the intensity and unpredictability that make combat sports attractive to viewers and bettors. His bouts often feature dramatic momentum shifts, and his willingness to trade strikes has made him popular with audiences who value action. A partnership with him gives Rainbet access to a fighter whose name is already associated with some of the UFC’s most memorable recent contests, with great chances for promotions and incentives for users. 

The comparison with Volkanovski is also an interesting topic. Both fighters have demonstrated longevity at the elite level, but their public identities differ. Volkanovski is often associated with tactical intelligence, adaptability and calculated pressure, whereas Gaethje’s reputation centres on explosive exchanges and relentless forward movement. Together, they would represent different aspects of the sport’s appeal, and therefore a great combination for their shared choice of sponsorship. 

Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland joined Rainbet as a brand ambassador in August 2026. His commercial appeal differs considerably from that of Gaethje or Volkanovski. His reputation is closely connected to his outspoken personality, confrontational interviews, and willingness to express controversial opinions. In a sport where promotional activity can generate almost as much attention as the contest itself, that profile gives him considerable visibility.

Inside the Octagon, Strickland is a technically capable middleweight, particularly through his disciplined jab, defensive positioning, and ability to maintain a steady pace. His career has included championship success and significant rivalries, helping him become one of the division’s most recognisable figures.

His reported Rainbet campaign was a cinematic advertisement with explosions and high octane, adrenaline infused antics that used his characteristic bluntness to critique conventional betting platforms. The concept illustrates how brands can tailor promotional material to an athlete’s existing public image rather than asking them to adopt a completely different persona.

There is a clear marketing logic behind the strategy. Strickland’s interviews regularly attract attention beyond the established MMA audience, and his distinctive personality makes him immediately recognisable. That visibility can help a company generate discussion and encourage people to associate the brand with a particular public figure.

For Rainbet, Strickland adds a more provocative public identity to a roster that is, weirdly, rare even in a sport like MMA where almost every other fighter has a specific combination of personality, demeanor, and aesthetic in the Octagon and outside of it. Rainbet, so far, has been collecting different archetypes and doing a marvelous marketing job that their fans are enjoying. 

Joshua Van

Joshua Van represents a different kind of investment for Rainbet since he is a younger fighter whose championship trajectory gives his commercial profile room to develop. Unlike his much more experienced colleagues, at 25, he is the future of the sport. 

Reports from September 2026 that announced Van’s partnership with Rainbet described it as part of the company’s expanding focus on UFC athletes. The deal followed his rise through the flyweight division and his emergence as one of the promotion’s significant young names. As such, he is perhaps the most long term of the quartet at this stage in their respective careers. 

Born in Myanmar and raised in the United States, Van has attracted attention for his fast paced approach and willingness to engage in striking exchanges. His rise has been particularly notable because flyweight is a division in which speed, accuracy, and the ability to sustain a high output can make the difference between an ordinary prospect and a championship contender.

His Rainbet promotional video took a more serious approach than the personality led campaigns associated with the others. The advertisement focused on the fighter’s determination and the importance of believing in himself when facing difficult odds. The campaign’s central message linked Van’s personal journey to Rainbet’s brand identity.

The approach has an obvious narrative appeal and makes sense for a rising star. Young athletes who came from relative obscurity to championship contention can connect with audiences through stories of perseverance, ambition and self belief. Van’s background provides a distinctive personal story, while his rapid progression through the UFC gives that story a sporting foundation. Established stars bring years of accomplishments and a broad following, while a younger champion offers the possibility of a relationship that grows alongside his career.