Alexander Volkanovski has solely been knocked out 3 times in his profession, and he is aware of his most up-to-date KO losses are inextricably tied collectively.
Popping out of UFC 290 in July 2023, Volkanovski was nonetheless close to the highest of the pound-for-pound ladder, having dominated Yair Rodriguez to writer the fifth protection of his featherweight title. 4 months later, on lower than every week’s discover, Volkanovski obtained the decision to rematch Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title at UFC 294 with Charles Oliveira shedding that chance as a result of a freak minimize.
Volkanovski was desperate to face Makhachev once more after going 5 thrilling rounds together with his Russian rival in a shedding effort at UFC 284, however the resolution proved expensive as Makhachev received their second battle with a first-round head kick knockout. As soon as once more, Volkanovski solely waited 4 months to step again into the octagon and as soon as once more he was brutally KO’d as he dropped his 145-pound belt to the undefeated Ilia Topuria at UFC 298.
Trying again, Volkanovski can admit he didn’t give himself sufficient time to get well from the second Makhachev loss.
“I’m going in too early and I get knocked out, I lose my belt,” Volkanovski stated on The Unscripted Present, stating the distinction between accidents in fight sports activities and in group sports activities. “That’s the very fact and that’s what occurred. I’m not taking something away from Ilia. I’m simply saying that that’s what can occur. So I obtained a loopy shin to the noggin and clearly Ilia can hit onerous, we’ve seen that, however I imply, I’ve by no means been simply utterly lights out like that. I used to be lights out for a few minutes.
“He obtained me within the cheek. However as quickly there was one good connection: loud night breathing.”
Volkanovski had by no means misplaced a battle at featherweight, a lot much less been knocked out at that weight class, so the sight of him being knocked out chilly by Topuria was stunning. The outcome had a major affect on Volkanovski’s profession as he made the choice to take a correct break from coaching and didn’t battle once more for over a 12 months earlier than returning at UFC 314 to battle Diego Lopes for a vacant title this previous April.
It proved to be a smart transfer as Volkanovski appeared sharp over 5 rounds, which was in stark distinction to how he felt going toe-to-toe with Topuria.
“So am I saying that wouldn’t have occurred if I didn’t have the Islam [knockout loss]? I don’t know,” Volkanovski stated. “Once more, [Topuria’s] very able to knocking me out. Like I stated, if I’m ever going to lose, it’s somebody catching me and he’s a man that may undoubtedly do it. Lots of people have been like, ‘You have been profitable till you bought caught.’ Yeah, that was the case, however I nonetheless wasn’t preventing my battle.
“I used to be apprehensive about getting hit and I used to be freaking out in there and I keep in mind sitting there, I used to be in two minds. Attempt to not get hit however then telling myself, ‘You’re alright. You’ll come again to it. Calm down.’ If I used to be that apprehensive, then why didn’t I simply shoot and be extra defensive and simply take him down and simply maintain him there, however then I might inform myself, ‘You don’t want to try this. You’re alright.’ … It was a difficult one. It was a tricky one for me.
Dropping to Topuria took an emotional toll on Volkanovski, in addition to a bodily one. The 36-year-old Australian felt misplaced after being dropped by Makhachev and his solely thought was to ebook one other battle as quickly as potential to redeem himself.
“You’ve seen this footage of me type of breaking down and never figuring out what I’m—If I’m like this now, how am I going to be after the game’s accomplished?” Volkanovski stated. “That’s what I used to be apprehensive about. Then I used to be like I have to maintain busy. Informed the UFC I wish to battle. I find yourself preventing simply after three months later with a foul concussion. Most individuals have six months, no head contact, after which begin camp. I began coaching, whenever you’re coaching you’re beginning head contact fairly rapidly.”
As unimaginable as Topuria’s knockout was, Volkanovski has stated previously that the pinnacle strike Makhachev landed on him was much more devastating. It left Volkanovski badly concussed and, he realizes now, significantly simpler pickings for Topuria in a while.
“A shin to the dome like that, that’s correct contact to the mind,” Volkanovski stated. “That’s trauma to the mind, direct mind trauma. It sounds horrible once I say it like that, however you get what I imply. You hit the chin and it rattles. This was bang and, like, direct contact. … I keep in mind listening to it was like ‘chzoooooo’ and every part’s simply going everywhere. I used to be like, ‘Noooo,’ I knew what’s taking place, actually that’s the way it appeared like.
“It appeared like I used to be cross-eyed as a result of every part was simply in all places and bizarre noises, however I used to be type of there in a way like, ‘No,’ like I knew what occurred. ‘Try to get your self again collectively, defend your self.’ I couldn’t defend myself my arms simply wouldn’t do what I needed.”
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