Volkanovski Fought with the Flu at UFC 333 and Still Stopped Evloev
Alexander Volkanovski revealed he was battling flu symptoms during his second-round TKO of Movsar Evloev at UFC 333.
Alexander Volkanovski delivered one of the most impressive performances of his career at UFC 333 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, stopping previously undefeated Movsar Evloev by TKO in the second round. What fight fans did not know at the time: the 38-year-old champion was fighting through the flu.
Volkanovski's voice sounded off during Friday's early morning weigh-ins, and his grappling coach Craig Jones confirmed on social media that the champion had been sick during fight week. Per Heavy, Volkanovski was "very sick" the morning of the fight, and reporter Oscar Willis reported that the champion refused all medication, including ibuprofen, because he believed taking anything would give him an unfair sporting advantage.
"It's all good, it's a part of the game," Volkanovski told reporters after the fight. "No matter what hurdles are in front of me."
None of it showed once the cage door closed. Volkanovski battered Evloev with punches in the second round to hand the 32-year-old Russian his first professional loss in 21 fights. The finish was Volkanovski's first stoppage in three years and earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
The win gives Volkanovski the most title victories in UFC featherweight history, passing Jose Aldo, and equals Aldo's record for featherweight title defenses. After the fight, Volkanovski hinted he is not done yet: "I said if I didn't take too much damage we probably will keep going, so maybe we keep going."
This is the most Volkanovski thing Volkanovski has ever done. The man flew halfway around the world, cut weight, woke up with the flu, refused to take so much as an Advil because he thought it would be cheating, and then went out and destroyed a guy who had never lost a fight. In the second round.
I have watched a lot of fighters over the years find excuses to pull out of bouts for a lot less. Volk could have said something Thursday night, asked for a postponement, and nobody would have blamed him. Instead he treated it like a blown tire on a road trip: something to deal with, not something to stop for.
At 38, after the Makhachev losses and the Topuria knockout, plenty of people had written him off. He just keeps answering. If Justin Gaethje or whoever is next at lightweight is watching this and thinking the old man is slowing down, good luck with that theory.
