Alexander Volkanovski says he was sick on the morning he stopped Movsar Evloev at UFC 333
The featherweight champion did not say what the illness was, and said fighting through setbacks "makes the story better".
Alexander Volkanovski has said he was sick on the morning of UFC 333, before he stopped Movsar Evloev in the second round to keep the UFC featherweight title in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. He did not say what the illness was.
Asked at the UFC 333 post-fight press conference how sick he had been that morning, Volkanovski said: "Good enough to get out there and get it done." He added: "It was funny, I started getting sick, I was like, oh well, at least, you know, it would have been too easy if I wasn't sick."
The 38-year-old said that at this stage of his career he enjoys the hurdles put in front of him, including injuries he has had to fight through. He said: "It makes the story better. But I'll save them for documentaries." He said a lot of people want to talk about title defences but he does not care about that, adding that overcoming challenges is what people will remember: "I think they're cooler stories."
At the same press conference, Volkanovski offered to make a fight with Justin Gaethje the last of his career, saying he would retire win or lose so he would not hold the division up.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More MMA from Combat Sports UK
- Dana White to reporter who questioned the last Saudi card: 'That's your opinion, sir'
- Dana White says the UFC has not talked about an event in Russia but 'probably should'
- Dana White says the UFC is working on a 'unique' event and he has already seen renderings
- Islam Makhachev cites Carlos Prates' loss to Ian Garry in rejecting title fight
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.