Alexander Volkanovski addresses 'raw emotion' unleashed after heartbreaking UFC 294 loss to Islam Makhachev

24/10/2023 22:54

Alexander Volkanovski doesn't regret the comments he made at the UFC 294 post-fight press conference just moments after he suffered a knockout loss to Islam Makhachev, but he did feel the need to explain exactly what he meant.

Emotion poured out of the reigning UFC featherweight champion as he addressed his loss while also stating that an extended break from training due to recent surgery was "just doing my head in." With more time to reflect after the fight, Volkanovski better explained his comments in a reaction video posted to his YouTube channel on Tuesday.

"That was raw emotion you seen," Volkanovski said. "But I want everyone to know I'm OK as well. I think people got to remember that obviously I did have a bit going on. I just got tagged, I just got knocked out. I lost. Obviously legacy-wise, all these things are coming to play, and that was obviously hurting.

"One thing I do want to say, even though I'm fine, I'm sort of glad you got to see that sort of raw emotion and we do touch on the mental side of things when it comes to everyone, not just fighting, athletes, men, anyone in general. I think it's good for awareness. I think these are conversations people should be having."

When the opportunity was presented to him to fight Makhachev on less than two weeks' notice, Volkanovski almost felt obligated to himself that he needed to jump at the chance to right the wrongs from their previous encounter in February. On that night — following a full training camp — the 35-year-old Australia lost a close decision and then he returned to form with a dominant victory over Yair Rodriguez just five months later.

This time around, Volkanovski had already been sidelined due to surgery required after the Rodriguez fight, which was compounded with the arrival of a new baby and that left him unable to spend nearly as much time in the gym.

"I do want to clear the air, I was struggling the last few months," Volkanovski said. "The newborn, surgery, not being in the gym as much as I would like and trying to be the best father I can be, [it] can take away a lot from the training, especially when you're coming off injuries. So I wasn't able to be in the gym as much as I like, which sometimes can make things a little more difficult.

"Two things that are most important to me — my family and my career. That's how I look after my family. They're my two purposes in life, providing for my family and how I do that is my fighting. I'm in my prime and sometimes you put a bit of pressure because I know I need to make the most of me in my prime because my days are numbered. Me and my wife, we're great, again got a beautiful family life, we're all good so I want everyone to know that. I don't want everything thinking that it's not like that. It's me trying to deal with being a high performance athlete and not being able to fulfill that side of things, especially the last few months."

Truth be told, Volkanovski says in that exact moment at the press conference, he was just expressing the real devastation that comes from such a heartbreaking loss.

"Yeah, high risk, high reward," Volkanovski said. "I was chasing greatness. I think I was a little more disappointed that I wasn't the professional, disciplined person that I was the last few months that I usually am."

Volkanovski acknowledged that he will eventually have to move past fighting but for right now that remains his primary focus, which is why he was so quick to pull the trigger on making a quick turnaround to compete again as early as January.

"All my focus right now is on my career, my fighting because I'm in my prime, this is how I make all my money right now is while I'm fighting," Volkanovski said. "That's why I put so much attention and so much commitment to what I'm doing.

"Yes, that's going to have to change when my career's done. I'm going to have to shift all that energy, all that purpose into whatever business to look after my family. I'm aware of that."

Regarding his future, Volkanovski doubled down on his desire to defend his UFC featherweight title against Ilia Topuria with hopes that the promotion will still book him in early 2024. He doesn't want an extended layoff even after suffering a knockout loss.

"I don't need a break," Volkanovski said. "I want to get back in camp. Obviously, I need to talk to doctors to make sure there's no concussion, stitches and what not but I want to get in camp.

"Like I said, I'm the best version of myself inside and outside of the cage when I have clear direction. Clear direction is me having a fight and I think January still looks great to me. Ilia Topuria is obviously a very exciting fight and I can shift all my attention to that."