Alexander Volkanovski on retiring: 'One hard knock to the brain, a concussion and that's that'

The UFC featherweight champion, 38, said he is content with what he has achieved and wants to look after his health, even though the paychecks will never be this big again.

Alexander Volkanovski says he will not take chances with head injuries as he weighs how much longer to fight, days after stopping Movsar Evloev to keep the UFC featherweight title.

Volkanovski told The Ariel Helwani Show: "I'm content (with what I've done) now. I'm blessed to be a fighter that doesn't need to do this... I'm taking each fight as it goes."

He said money was the reason to carry on, but not at any cost. "Obviously, the paycheck. We ain't never gonna get paychecks like this ever again," he said. "But I want to look after my health."

"The injuries around the body are okay. The head stuff, I don't wanna mess around with," Volkanovski said. "One hard knock to the brain, a concussion and that's that. That's how I'm looking at this. I'm weighing all these options."

Volkanovski was knocked out by Islam Makhachev in October 2023 and by Ilia Topuria in February 2024 before winning the featherweight title back. He stopped Evloev in round two of the UFC 333 main event in Abu Dhabi on 24 October, the second defence of his second reign and the first loss of Evloev's professional career.

In the same interview, Volkanovski said he would vacate the featherweight title to fight Arman Tsarukyan if lightweight champion Justin Gaethje retires. He has also said a fight with Gaethje would be his last, win or lose.

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