Australian fighter Alexander Volkanovski has provided more insight into his feelings of frustration and emotional distress following his knockout defeat to Islam Makhachev. The aftermath of Volkanovski’s loss at UFC 294 in October was heavily scrutinized, as he broke down during the post-fight press conference and openly discussed his defeat and struggles with inactivity. In an interview with FREESTYLEBENDER, Volkanovski (26-3 MMA, 13-2 UFC) revealed that he had been consuming alcohol on a daily basis prior to receiving the call for a rematch against Makhachev with only 12 days’ notice.
Volkanovski, who does not typically drink daily, found himself caught off guard after a few months of recovering from hand surgery and defending his UFC featherweight title against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in July. He admits that he was not fully prepared to capitalize on the opportunity for a rematch against Makhachev, who controversially defeated him at UFC 284 in February 2023. This is a source of ongoing regret for Volkanovski.
“I lacked discipline,” Volkanovski said of his second loss to Makhachev. “I’m known for being disciplined year-round, 24/7, and I wasn’t during that time. I was truly disappointed, especially with who I had become in the months leading up to that fight. To be honest, it made things a little easier because it snapped me out of it. I had been drinking every day for three or four weeks.”
Volkanovski further explained that daily drinking was unprecedented for him. He justified it by reasoning that he wasn’t training much due to his surgery and was trying to help out around the house. However, he soon realized that he needed to put a stop to it. Even on the day before he received the call for the rematch, he weighed in at 183 pounds, which drew laughter from his fellow gym members. This was an unusually heavy weight for him.
While Volkanovski claims that his drinking was not excessive or binge-like, he acknowledges that it is not something a professional fighter should engage in, especially if they are open to accepting short-notice fights. On a positive note, Volkanovski believes that taking the Makhachev rematch was beneficial for him, as it forced him to regain control over his vices.
“I thought, ‘Let’s do it, I need to snap out of this rut I’m in,'” Volkanovski said. “This is exciting, this is a challenge, and it’s exactly what I need right now. So I was just a little disappointed with myself at that time. Losing is always tough, but losing to a fighter like Islam is acceptable. I know I can beat him, I’ve proven that, but he got me. All credit to him. I’m not taking anything away from him. He set up that kick perfectly, and there’s not much I can say. I was just disappointed with the person I had become leading up to that fight.”
Volkanovski currently holds the No. 3 ranking in the latest USA TODAY Sports rankings.
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