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Mental health is the real fight : Alexander Volkanovski breaks down in tears after UFC 294 brutal loss
A visibly broken Alexanader Volkanovski barely fought back tears as he mentioned the struggles with mental health was a significant factor in his decision to accept a UFC lightweight title fight with only 12 days notice explaining that “I needed it.”
In his second opportunity to have the lucrative double champ status, Volkanovski faced a brutal defeat from the dominant Dagestani champion Islam Makhachev who is the student of the great Khabib Nurmagomedov , Islam set up a perfect head kick that left the Australian fighter wobbling with two minutes remaining in the first round he then followed up with nine hammer fists on the grounded Volkanovski, prompting the referee Marc Goddard to end the bout
“It really is hard for athletes,” Volkanovski continued, giving voice to the struggles that often remain hidden beneath the surface of a fighter’s tough exterior. He acknowledged the challenges that athletes face outside of the spotlight, beyond the adrenaline of the cage. His next words hinted at a vulnerability seldom seen in the fight game, “I never thought I’d struggle with it, but for some reason when I wasn’t fighting or in camp…”
The champion’s raw honesty struck with the audience, many of whom had only seen the polished version of Volkanovski in the lead-up to fights. He peeled back the layers, exposing a side that goes unnoticed. “So when this opportunity came up, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t training as much as I should’ve, but I thought I had to do it,” he admitted, providing it was complex decision-making process that led him to accept the fight.
“Had to take it,” Volkanovski emphasized, emphasizing the struggle he faced when contemplating the offer. The fighter, known for his resilience and mental toughness, admitted to being haunted by a restless mind when not engaged in the rigors of training and competition. “I was doing my head in not fighting. Don’t know why. I’ve got a beautiful family,” he reflected, highlighting the enigmatic nature of mental health struggles that can affect even those with seemingly perfect lives.
“I think you just need to keep busy. So I ask the UFC to keep me busy. I need to be in camp or I’m gunna do my head in,” Volkanovski concluded, requesting the support of the organization to maintain his sense of purpose and mental well-being. In those words, he not only opened up about his own journey but also shed light on the broader issue of mental health in professional sports, a topic that is often stigmatized and overlooked. (Post UFC 294 interview)
As the press conference concluded, the dominant feather weight Alexander Volkanovski candid revelations lingered in the air, prompting a deeper reflection on the often unseen battles fought outside the cage by those who make a living within its confines.
This defeat however came with a bonus that made the UFC feather weight champion receive a large sum of compensation for stepping in on short notice acquiring a new contract, catapulting him into the ranks of the nations 15 highest paid athletes. Reported by Fox Sports
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