Alexander Volkanovski simply wanted to struggle.
Volkanovski was completed for the primary time in ten years yesterday at UFC 294 (Sat., Oct. 21, 2023) when he obtained head kicked after which pounded out within the first spherical by Islam Makhachev from inside Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi, UAE (watch highlights).
Throughout UFC 294 struggle week, the 35-year-old Featherweight champion was accused by Makhachev of solely taking the anticipated rematch for a pleasant large paycheck; nonetheless, Volkanovski revealed it was a lot greater than that.
He wanted to struggle for his psychological well being.
“I don’t wish to sit there and clearly make excuses. You understand what I imply?” Volkanovski informed the media throughout the UFC 294 post-fight press convention (watch right here). “Clearly, I’m an enormous believer in preparation and stuff like that. However I again myself, in order that’s the choice I made. You understand what I imply? I’ve most likely made decisions- I may’ve made higher selections, however he’s not any person you need to be taking a brief discover [fight] with, however I wanted it.
“Lots of people will say it’s for the cash and all that, nevertheless it was far more than that. It was onerous. It actually is tough for athletes. Sorry… [Volkanovski got choked up] I by no means thought I’d wrestle with it, however for some motive, once I wasn’t preventing or in camp, f—okay, sorry, I used to be simply doing my head in. I wanted a struggle, after which this chance got here up.”
“To be trustworthy, I wasn’t coaching as a lot as I ought to’ve,” Volkanovski continued. “However I assumed I needed to do it. I needed to take it. I’m telling myself it’s meant to be. I used to be struggling a bit, not preventing, doing my head in. I don’t know the way. All the things’s advantageous. I’ve an attractive household, however I don’t know. I feel you simply have to hold busy. That’s why I simply requested the UFC to maintain me busy. I simply have to be retaining busy. I have to be in camp, in any other case, I’m going to do my head in.”
Alexander Volkanovski reveals he is been coping with psychological struggles with inactivity, and ‘wanted this struggle for greater than cash’ pic.twitter.com/gsnpJJIu3j
— Oscar Willis (@oscarswillis) October 21, 2023
Volkanovski has at all times been trustworthy, however he was uncooked together with his feelings for the primary time.
Volkanovski desires to show round in three months and struggle Ilia Topuria in Toronto for the primary pay-per-view of 2024. Who is aware of whether it is a good suggestion as a result of he simply obtained knocked out, but when it’s going to hold the Featherweight champion glad and mentally nicely, go for it, champ.
For full UFC 294 outcomes, protection, and highlights click on HERE.
