IMAGINE being within touching distance of your dream, so close you can practically taste it, only to have it ripped away from you without warning.

That’s happened to Alex Volkanovski.

Twice, in fact.

The Shellharbour native has been set to make his UFC debut twice before but he’s hoping his bout with Japan’s Yusuke Kasuya in Melbourne on November 27th really is the start of his career in the big time.

“There was an opportunity where I could have been on an Aussie card and there was a problem with management and stuff like that. I was robbed of that opportunity” Volkanovski told The Daily Telegraph.

“I knew that they wanted me. I was the number one pick (as an injury replacement) before I got stuffed around, not by the UFC but by someone else.”

So “The Hulk” retreated back to the local scene, where he’s amassed a 13-1 record and a 10-fight winning streak — all of which have been finishes.

media_camera Volkanovski has made a name for himself on the local Australian scene. Photo: Terry Vorg.

He got the call by the UFC to fight in Manila but was again left in the lurch when the entire event was cancelled following an injury to headliner BJ Penn.

“I felt lost when I heard about Manila and not knowing where my next fight would be, that was the hardest thing, just not knowing what was happening

“I knew that I’d be getting another fight but putting all that hard work in and it being my dream for so long and then for it to be taken away a week out was pretty heartbreaking.

“When I got told about the Australian card, it felt right.

“Relief is probably a good word. My wife is so supportive, we’ve got a year-old daughter so we’ve sacrificed a lot for me to chase this dream.

media_camera Volkanovski boasts a 10-fight winning streak. Photo: Terry Vorg.

“I was living with my mum. Its tough.

“So when I got that call it was just relief, knowing that I’ve got that bit of security and I know I can look at my daughter and I feel like I’ve done her proud.”

What makes Volkanovski’s rise to the top all the more remarkable was that it wasn’t all that long ago he was making waves in a different sport — as a hard nosed prop for Group 7 side Warilla Gorillas.

“I was a front rower, a 5’5 front rower, so you can imagine what that would have looked like.”

He did all right as well, taking out the Mick Cronin Medal as Group 7 player of the year in 2010 and winning man of the match in the 36-6 2011 grand final victory over Gerringong before retiring to pursue MMA fulltime.

“When I started telling people I was going to take on MMA and give up football they all said ‘you’re crazy, what’re you doing?’ thinking that I could have been successful in the league.

“But if you haven’t made it by 22 in rugby league, it’s a bit harsh to say, but its hard to make it past then. So I didn’t think I was ever going to make it and I’m a pretty competitive guy.

media_camera From the Warilla Gorillas to the UFC. Photo: Terry Vorg.

“Just knowing I could get in the cage and it’d be all on me, I love team sports but (in MMA) I just feel like there’s no-one that can let you down but yourself.

There’s none of this “happy to be here, ready to do my best” sort of stuff when Volkanovski talks about his goals in the UFC — he’s aiming for an immediate impact.

“I don’t mean this with any disrespect but you get a lot of people who would just be happy to make the UFC, where I’m looking past that.

“I aint just making the UFC, I’m coming for those top ranks. I was never just going to make the UFC, I want to get in there, make a statement and smash through the rankings real quick.”