Ilia Topuria (left) fighting against Alexander Volkanovsky (dir.) in UFC 298. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @UFCNews
Defeated in last performance at UFC 298, Alexander Volkanovsky finally opened the game and commented on the setback suffered by Ilia Topuria in his sixth title defense in Ultimate. Criticized for quickly returning to the octagon after being knocked out by Islam makhachev, the Australian admitted that his thoughts got in his way during the fight against the Spanish-Georgian.
“Obviously, the fact that I got caught (last time) is on my mind. People will speculate and say, 'He's a failure. It wasn't a long enough break. I think my team did a great job. But was that on my mind? Yes. Obviously, I told myself it wouldn't be. That's what I mean when I say I was having second thoughts in there: I was struggling like, 'I can't get caught,' but trying to tell myself, 'You're okay, come on, you gotta start going, start to fight your fight'”, said Volkanovski on his channel YouTube.
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Aware that he may have made a bad choice, Volkanovski said he does not plan to return to the Octagon quickly.
“It was a complicated fight. Maybe, maybe (it was a factor). That makes me take it seriously. There are two (knockouts) in a row now. Put it this way, I’m not planning on having a quick turnaround like I did after the October fight against Islam,” he concluded.
Ilia Topuria (right) and Alexander Volkanovsky (left) after fight in UFC 298. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Former featherweight champion (up to 65,7 kg.) Volkanovski expected to achieve the sixth title defense in his career, but his dream was interrupted when he was knocked out by Topuria in the second round. According to his coach Eugene Bareman, the Australian did not suffer concussions and just needs to rest to ask for a rematch against his rival in the future.
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