Latest news with #AlexVolkanovski
Herald Sun
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. How many sports stars does it take to convince Australians that Kia can make a good, off-road, dual cab ute? The South Korean car manufacturer – better known for their sensible SUVs – clearly thinks the answer is a lot. Last week, for the launch of its first-ever ute, the Tasman, Kia shipped Alex Volkanovski, Lance Franklin, David Boonie, Damien Oliver, Alfie Langer, Steve Waugh, Dane Swan, Nathan Hindmarsh and Darren Lockyer to a small country town in the Central West of New South Wales. MORE: Kia's Tasman tested in pre-production form Retired Broncos star Darren Lockyer with a horse in Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied A truly impressive bevy of athletes. Some of the biggest names in Australian sport. And they were all brought together to participate in what might best be described as a night of improvisational theatre. No, really. For the launch, Kia took over Sofala, a historic gold rush town with a population of around 100 people, and transformed it into 'Tasman Town', the imaginary destination featured in their ads. I was one of a few dozen motoring writers and media types who were invited along for the event. MORE: Drivers fed up by dangerous driving Kia transformed Sofala, NSW, into Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied On arrival, we were greeted as though we were newcomers to the area, interested in buying a local property. To help us get acquainted with the town, an actor, playing the local mayor, gave us a tour of the main street. Along the way, we were introduced to a few of the 'residents'. These were, of course, the athletes who were in character as … well … themselves. But versions of themselves who drove Kias, worked trades, and lived in a fake town. Frankly, I call this non-consensual improvisation. MORE: Driving Subaru's Forester hybrid Kia transformed a pub into the Tasman Hotel. Picture: Supplied Usually, I would gnaw off my own hand to avoid it. Kia, perhaps being one step ahead of dissidents like myself, were mercifully quick to distribute beer and wine to prevent any such drastic actions. Certainly, some athletes were more comfortable in their acting roles than others. UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski – pretending to a butcher – was a standout performer. I suppose if your actual job is beating men into a pulp with your knuckles, all other gigs are comparatively easy. MORE: Australia's favourite cars Kia transformed Sofala, NSW, into Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied A few actual Sofala residents were also involved in the show. They had the important job of walking ponies and goats up and down the street. You know, just like any ordinary country town. The rest of the locals had gathered at the pub, schooners in hand, to watch the palaver unfold. Their faces were inscrutable as the media pack shuffled past. Once the mandatory theatre component of the evening had concluded, guests and the sporting icons were free to mingle. MORE: Jet pilot tech changing Aussie cars Former cricketer Steve Waugh in Kia's Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied This, I realise, would be a dream event for many Australians. Unfortunately, as someone with terrible facial memory and a dearth of knowledge on any non car-related sport, I was in a personally-tailored horror story. Every conversation was socially fraught. Did this person look familiar because I've met them at a car launch? Or are they an Australian sporting legend whom I should absolutely know? There were a million ways for a person like me to socially embarrass themselves. Inevitably, it wasn't long before I found one. MORE: Huge ask for Australia's most valuable car Retired NRL star Nathan Hindmarsh in Kia's Tasman Town. Picture: Supplied During the evening's formal dinner, the person assigned to the place next to me sat down, shook my hand and asked, 'Who are you?'. This was an aggressive start to a conversation, I thought. I fired back, 'I'm Stephanie, who are you?' To which he replied, very politely, that he was Nathan Hindmarsh, one of the footy players. Also, he clarified, he'd asked me how are you, not who are you. Hindmarsh then proceeded to further shame me by being thoroughly funny and charming for the rest of the evening. The Tasman launch was an extravaganza, but I was obviously not the target audience. Stephanie Coombes with the Kia Tasman. Picture: Supplied The fact that no female sporting stars were present – even though they featured in some of the ads – is further evidence of this fact. If Kia has a vision board for the Tasman, dead centre is a caricature of an Aussie tradesman. Their method for appealing to these men – getting high-profile sporting heroes to pretend to be tradies – is borderline patronising. But Kia is not in a position to take any serious creative risks. They need the Tasman to work in Australia. This is no small task. Kia is entering a very established, highly-competitive dual cab ute market late in the day, and with a car that is being thoroughly panned online for its boxy, brutalist design. Kia has decided to align itself with winners. Only time will tell whether that sporting glory will rub off on the Tasman, a ute that's joining the race well behind the starting line. Originally published as Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
News.com.au
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Behind the scenes in Kia's Tasman Town
How many sports stars does it take to convince Australians that Kia can make a good, off-road, dual cab ute? The South Korean car manufacturer – better known for their sensible SUVs – clearly thinks the answer is a lot. Last week, for the launch of its first-ever ute, the Tasman, Kia shipped Alex Volkanovski, Lance Franklin, David Boonie, Damien Oliver, Alfie Langer, Steve Waugh, Dane Swan, Nathan Hindmarsh and Darren Lockyer to a small country town in the Central West of New South Wales. A truly impressive bevy of athletes. Some of the biggest names in Australian sport. And they were all brought together to participate in what might best be described as a night of improvisational theatre. No, really. For the launch, Kia took over Sofala, a historic gold rush town with a population of around 100 people, and transformed it into 'Tasman Town', the imaginary destination featured in their ads. I was one of a few dozen motoring writers and media types who were invited along for the event. On arrival, we were greeted as though we were newcomers to the area, interested in buying a local property. To help us get acquainted with the town, an actor, playing the local mayor, gave us a tour of the main street. Along the way, we were introduced to a few of the 'residents'. These were, of course, the athletes who were in character as … well … themselves. But versions of themselves who drove Kias, worked trades, and lived in a fake town. Frankly, I call this non-consensual improvisation. Usually, I would gnaw off my own hand to avoid it. Kia, perhaps being one step ahead of dissidents like myself, were mercifully quick to distribute beer and wine to prevent any such drastic actions. Certainly, some athletes were more comfortable in their acting roles than others. UFC Featherweight Champion Alex Volkanovski – pretending to a butcher – was a standout performer. I suppose if your actual job is beating men into a pulp with your knuckles, all other gigs are comparatively easy. A few actual Sofala residents were also involved in the show. They had the important job of walking ponies and goats up and down the street. You know, just like any ordinary country town. The rest of the locals had gathered at the pub, schooners in hand, to watch the palaver unfold. Their faces were inscrutable as the media pack shuffled past. Once the mandatory theatre component of the evening had concluded, guests and the sporting icons were free to mingle. This, I realise, would be a dream event for many Australians. Unfortunately, as someone with terrible facial memory and a dearth of knowledge on any non car-related sport, I was in a personally-tailored horror story. Every conversation was socially fraught. Did this person look familiar because I've met them at a car launch? Or are they an Australian sporting legend whom I should absolutely know? There were a million ways for a person like me to socially embarrass themselves. Inevitably, it wasn't long before I found one. During the evening's formal dinner, the person assigned to the place next to me sat down, shook my hand and asked, 'Who are you?'. This was an aggressive start to a conversation, I thought. I fired back, 'I'm Stephanie, who are you?' To which he replied, very politely, that he was Nathan Hindmarsh, one of the footy players. Also, he clarified, he'd asked me how are you, not who are you. Hindmarsh then proceeded to further shame me by being thoroughly funny and charming for the rest of the evening. The Tasman launch was an extravaganza, but I was obviously not the target audience. The fact that no female sporting stars were present – even though they featured in some of the ads – is further evidence of this fact. If Kia has a vision board for the Tasman, dead centre is a caricature of an Aussie tradesman. Their method for appealing to these men – getting high-profile sporting heroes to pretend to be tradies – is borderline patronising. But Kia is not in a position to take any serious creative risks. They need the Tasman to work in Australia. This is no small task. Kia is entering a very established, highly-competitive dual cab ute market late in the day, and with a car that is being thoroughly panned online for its boxy, brutalist design. Kia has decided to align itself with winners.
News.com.au
27-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
UFC 317: Ilia Topuria says he'll ‘never' fight Alex Volkanovski again
Ilia Topuria has emphatically shut the door on a potential rematch with Alex Volkanovski, suggesting the Aussie's dreams of becoming a multi-division champ are over. Volkanovski lost his featherweight belt to Topuria in February last year, with a knockout punch leaving the Aussie's career on the ropes following another KO loss to Islam Makhachev. Topuria (16-0) defended his featherweight title against Max Holloway before vacating the title to move up to lightweight. He is aiming to become a two-division champion when he takes on Charles Oliveira in a blockbuster main event this weekend at UFC 317 in Las Vegas. 'It's another dream come true, you know, Topuria told 'I always had the dream to become a world champion, but now I have the opportunity to become two-weight world champion. And the first one to be undefeated. 'So I felt very excited and very grateful for having this opportunity and of course it means a lot for me and for my family.' Australia's Volkanovski, 36, is in the twilight of his career but showed he is still a class fighter, defeating Diego Lopes to reclaim his featherweight title. But Volk's dreams of becoming lightweight champion appear over, with the Aussie set to finish his UFC career with a couple of featherweight title defences. Topuria shook his head when asked if he would fight Volkanovski again in a rematch. 'Never (again), all with Volk is done,' he said. 'First of all, because I'm not planning to go back to the featherweight division again. 'And the second thing is that I don't think that they (the UFC) are gonna allow him to move up to the lightweight division. 'OK if he does it, I don't think that he deserves the title shot directly.' Volkanovski has previously told he may only have a handful of fights left before he retires, but his next featherweight opponent is unclear — Lopes, Yair Rodriguez or undefeated Russian Movsar Evloev are potential options. With Jon Jones retired and Alex Pereira's next fight up in the air, the next great UFC blockbuster could be a bout between Topuria and Makhachev at lightweight. Makhachev has signalled his intention to move up to welterweight to fight Jack Della Maddalena for the belt after the Perth product became Australia's third UFC champion earlier this year. 'I don't know what's going to happen after this fight, to be honest,' Topuria said when asked about a potential fight with Makhachev. 'I'm willing is to stay active. So whatever the UFC wants me to do, if they want me to move up to welterweight division to face Islam, I will be OK. 'If they want to keep defending the belt of lightweight division, I will be OK also. I'm here to fight and to entertain people. 'Of course, if he (Makhachev) wants to come back (to lightweight) or the UFC wants me to move up to the welterweight division, I always have that door open, you know what I mean? 'I always wanted to fight him. Since the first day I heard his name and I decided to move up. I was like I want to face this guy. 'He decided to move up, I don't know for what reasons, but if in the future he wants to fight, I will be there.' As for this weekend against Oliveira, Topuria said: 'I see myself knocking him out in the first round. Maybe it's going to be right hand straight to his face.' 'For the first time, I could say that I really enjoyed the whole process of the training camp. I enjoyed everything. That extra pounds make a huge difference in my life. 'So, I'm very happy and very excited to show to everyone like that I really belong to this weight class. They think that I'm small, they're gonna realise on that actually I'm huge.' Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira — lightweight title bout Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara-France — flyweight title bout Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van — flyweight bout Beniel Dariush vs Renato Moicano — lightweight bout
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The incredible donation to Dragons' NRLW squad from UFC star Alex Volkanovski - 'something that I wanted to do'
Aussie UFC legend Alex Volkanovski has warmed the hearts of many footy fans after generously donating $10,000 towards St George Illawarra's NRLW program. Volkanovski, 36, has also pledged to assist the club's wrestling program under new women's coach Nathan Cross. 'It's just something that I wanted to do. The sport is growing so much in this region,' Volkanovski told News Corp. 'If you can invest in the sport's growth, and create more opportunities, that's how it's going to get better. 'If there's a bit of money I can donate to help them be professional athletes, and maybe give those opportunities – whether it's strength and conditioning, physios, they need to help that process.' Volkanovski - a father of three girls - pointed to the success of the Matildas as proof women's sport can thrive in Australia if appropriate funding follows. His five-figure sum will go towards better equipment, camps, facilities, diet and nutrition support. Born in Wollongong on the NSW south coast, 'Volk' was never going to pass on his hard earned to anyone else but the Red V. Having himself waited years for mixed martial arts to be properly resourced, he understands the struggles semi-professional athletes face. 'I know that when I was able to go professional and fulltime, I (soon) went to a new level,' he said. 'I'm not expecting that money will be able to fix everything, but if we can point it in the right direction, we can watch the sport grow.' Volkanovski first entered the Octagon as a professional in 2016, and almost a decade later is one of the most respected figures in the sport globally. Boasting a career record of 27-4, with 13 wins via knockout, 'The Great' is a two-time UFC World Featherweight Champion. Previously, Volkanovski was a standout for Warilla Gorillas in the Group 7 Rugby League competition. In 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Mick Cronin Medal after being judged the league's best player.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sadio Mane scores four in Al Nassr's 9-0 thrashing
Alex Volkanovski: 'I'm most proud of coming back from 2 knockout losses' Alexander Volkanovski returns as two-time UFC featherweight champion after his win over Diego Lopes to break down what it meant to regain the belt, getting back on track after back-to-back knockout losses, a potential fight with Movsar Evloev, the state of his division, his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, wanting the Ilia rematch, Belal Muhammad vs. fellow Aussie Jack Della Maddalena, and more. 3:23 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
