Fans celebrate Alexander Volkanovski as one of the best MMA fighters on the planet. The current UFC featherweight champion is known for his incredible striking and resilience. However, his attempts at cementing his legacy as a ‘champ-champ’ have been denied twice by Islam Makhachev. Their first fight at UFC 284 saw Volkanovski lose a decision to the Dagestani fighter.
Volkanovski received another opportunity to face Makhachev at UFC 294 with Charles Oliveira suffering a cut above his eye just weeks before the event. The Australian bravely stepped up on short notice but got knocked out by Makhachev in the first round. In his post-fight interview, Volkanovski candidly shared his mental health status when he is not fighting, leaving fans concerned. However, with his recent Instagram story, it seems that ‘The Great’ is in high spirits surrounded by his loved ones!
Alexander Volkanovski shares heartwarming update with his family
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UFC 294 was a card filled with surprises during the build-up. Both Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev saw themselves facing short-notice replacements for their fights. Alexander Volkanovski and Kamaru Usman stepped up to take on the monumental challenges. But the two men came up short in their attempts at securing wins against their opponents.
Volkanovski had claimed before the fight that he didn’t feel any pressure going into the short-notice fight. Despite fans considering his previous loss a controversial decision, Volkanovski was determined to secure a second title in the fight. However, Makhachev landed a devastating head kick that sent the Australian and his double-champion aspirations crashing to the canvas.
In the post-fight press conference, a visibly emotional Volkanovski shared his mental status before fights. He stated that this fight wasn’t “about the money” and that “I need to be keeping busy, I need to be in camp. Otherwise, I’m gonna do my head in.” Fans were concerned about the champion but in a recent Instagram story, Volkanovski shared a positive update, surrounded by his daughters!
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The pictures show Volkanovski enjoying himself surrounded by what he captioned as his, “3 princesses”. His update seems to indicate that Volkanovski is in a much better place mentally than he was after his loss.
Volkanvoski has also stated that he is still ready to defend his featherweight title against all contenders. And he already seems to have an opponent in mind for when he makes his return to the Octagon!
‘The Great’ is determined to defend his throne again
Even though Islam Makhachev knocked him out in their recent bout at UFC 294, Volkanovski remains resolute about making a quick return to the octagon. The champion had been rumored to defend his title against Ilia Topuria in January, but he took a short-notice fight against Makhachev. But despite the setback, Volkanovski’s focus now remains on 2024.
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He expressed his desire to stay active, stating, “I’m in my prime, I need to fight. I don’t need a break.” Volkanovski stated that he has consulted doctors to ensure his health, but he’s eager to have a clear direction, which for him means getting back in the fight.
He still looks forward to facing Ilia Topuria in January and assures fans that they will see an improved version of himself. Before his lightweight venture, Volkanovski defended his featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July, winning by TKO.
Now that Alexander Volkanovski appears to be back in high spirits assuring the concerned fans, he is looking forward to returning to the Octagon and proving to the fans that he is still the dominant force in the UFC’s featherweight division.
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Do you think Ilia Topuria has a shot at defeating Alexander Volkanovski? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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