Long before he was one of the greatest super bantamweights on planet Earth, Sam Goodman was a bush football player.
Specifically, with Albion Park Oat Flats.
This south coast club which, for as long as anyone can remember – going back way before even Goodman’s old man Steve was running around in first grade – had one of those wonderful tribal rivalries with its neighbors close, the Warilla Gorillas.
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Which, immediately, will give many fight fans an idea of where this thread is going.
Understanding that when it comes to those famous Group 7 gorillas… well, one of their own Old Boys, like Goodman, has also done well in recent years traveling the world throwing fists.
And by OK, we mean becoming arguably the greatest UFC fighter in the world now, and maybe ever.
“Absolute beast,” is how Goodman describes fellow fighter Alexander Volkanovski, “a Gong boy and good friend who on Sunday week will be going for the UFC lightweight title on 11 days’ notice.”
The Australian UFC featherweight champion agreed, just this week, to skydive and face formidable Dagestani wrestler Islam Makhachev, who he also fought and controversially lost to in the UFC 284 in February.
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Overall, one challenge posted online this week is aptly described by a meme showing South Park’s Randy Marsh carrying his oversized cajones in a wheelbarrow.
“And how can you not like it?” said Goodman, speaking again of a friend he has gotten to know more and more in recent years as, together, they have climbed the ranks and rankings of their respective sports.
“Here comes Volk, once again, facing off against the guy everyone thinks is the bogeyman.
“A fighter that a lot of people think should have gotten the nod against the first time around.
“It just proves he’s an absolute savage and I really hope he succeeds.”
Which is a little different from what he thought of Volk in the early 2000s, right?
Back in the day, the No. 10 nugget was ripping and tearing his beloved Eagles in those biggest rivalry matchups in the bush.
With ‘Footy Volk’ who not only weighs 97 kg, but who wins matches, titles, even the Mick Cronin medal for the best player in Group 7.
But Goodman?
“I was the ball boy at Albian Park,” he says, smiling.
“I played all my juniors with the club and I was always there for the seniors too because Dad was on the pitch watching with his mates having a few beers.
“So when Volk was winning the prime ministerships for Warilla, I would have been the ball boy.
“He’s probably been in a few of the grand finals he’s been to.
“And our two clubs, there is a long rivalry there.
“Every time the teams play, you never miss that game.
“There were even more recent times when Albion Park were playing Warilla and I would come down from the Central Coast and then come back the same day, just to make sure I didn’t miss the game.
“That’s what it means to us.”
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It’s also why, during his undefeated career that now spans 15 fights, Goodman wears the Eagles colors maroon and white on his jerseys.
In the crowd and among a team of supporters known as the “Mad Bunch” are dozens of Albion Park players, coaches, supporters, committees and volunteers.
All will be in full voice – and many, just full voice – when the fighter now ranked No. 1 for IBF and WBO straps takes on tough Mexican Miguel Flores this Sunday on the Tim Tszyu vs. Brian Mendoza undercard.
Seven days later, Volkanovski looks to become a two-division champion in Abu Dhabi.
Asked about his own fight and that Mexican rival who drew with Abner Mares last start and went the distance with Leo Santa Cruz in 2019, Goodman insists he is ready for a war.
“Going the distance with Leo Santa Cruz, that’s probably the most important name on his CV,” the Australian says of Flores.
“And Flores, he went to war with him too.
“I wasn’t afraid to do business.
“But every time the guy intervenes, he gets beaten.
“And the same thing happens on Sunday.”
Do you expect him to fight you like he did against Santa Cruz?
“Yes,” Goodman continued.
“He has that Mexican style, that growl.
“And at mid-range, he’s definitely dangerous.”
“Puts together good combinations.
“It’s also good in short for a guy with a long reach.
“So it will be interesting to see where he takes this fight.
“He will be eager to come forward and take his chance.
“But I won’t give him any trust early on and I will take away everything he does well…he will come into my world.”
