‘The Symptoms Were Worse' – Volkanovski's Confession Catches Fans Off Guard
Alexander Volkanovski is back on top. After a brutal stretch filled with back-to-back losses and tough questions about whether the fire was still there, he silenced all the noise at UFC 314 by recapturing the featherweight title. It was a gutsy performance, one that reminded everyone exactly who he is. But behind the victory and the cameras, Volkanovski has been carrying something far heavier than a championship belt.
Advertisement
During a recent sit-down with Demetrious Johnson on the MightyCast YouTube show, Volkanovski cracked the door open on what he's really been dealing with. And he didn't hold back.
Alexander VolkanovskiGetty Images
He spoke openly about the aftermath of his toughest fights—one against Islam Makhachev, the other against Ilia Topuria—and which one truly rattled him.
'I feel like I had more of a concussion from the Islam fight, even though I was knocked out longer with Ilia,' Volkanovski admitted. 'I had a lot more of the symptoms in that one. I should have had the break.'
The words hit differently when they come from a fighter known for his toughness. Volkanovski has never been the type to make excuses, which makes this reveal all the more sobering. He didn't just lose—he felt off. Dizzy, drained, and fighting the kind of fog you can't train your way through.
Advertisement
Even though Topuria landed the clean knockout with a punch, and Makhachev finished him with a head kick, it was the earlier Makhachev war that left the deeper scars. It's a reminder that the hardest hits aren't always the ones that drop you.
Even fans are voicing concern. One Reddit user put it plainly:
'He was KO'd 2× in 4 months, plus whatever mini concussions he got training. He really should take a full year off.'
It's the kind of sentiment that mirrors what Volkanovski himself admitted—sometimes, even the toughest need to pause.
Now champion once again, Volkanovski finds himself at a new crossroads. Will he take the cautious route, or stay in that high-stakes cycle of quick turnarounds and top contenders? While nothing's locked in, Volkanovski himself has expressed interest in facing rising contender Movsar Evloev—an undefeated talent climbing the ranks quickly.
Advertisement
Either way, Volkanovski has made one thing crystal clear: he's still here, still hungry—but this time, he's listening to his body just as much as his heart.
Related: UFC Nashville: Three Fighters Who Could Be Cut with a Loss
Related: UFC Signs Dangerous Heavyweight Submission Specialist in Latest Move
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wales beat Australia to claim first win under Lynn
Women's summer series Australia (12) 12 Tries: Codey, Morgan Con: Miller Wales (14) 21 Tries: Metcalfe 2, Dallavalle Cons: Bevan 3 Wales celebrated a first win under head coach Sean Lynn with victory over Australia in Brisbane. Having lost all five Six Nations games earlier this year, Wales delivered a timely performance just four weeks out from the Rugby World Cup. Annabelle Codey gave the hosts an early lead before play was halted amid an impressive show of thunder and lightning on the Sunshine Coast. Nel Metcalfe then crossed twice as Wales looked resurgent, but a lapse in concentration allowed Layne Morgan to sneak over on the stroke of half-time to trim Wales' lead to 14-12. Hannah Dallavalle extended Wales' lead, and while the Wallaroos dominated territory in the second half, Wales' defence was up to the task. The two sides will meet again in Sydney on Friday, their final warm-up before the World Cup. More to follow. Australia: Caitlyn Halse; Waiaria Ellis, Georgina Friedrichs, Trilleen Pomare, Desiree Miller; Tia Hinds, Layne Morgan; Lydia Kavoa, Katalina Amosa, Bridie O'Gorman, Kaitlan Leaney, Annabelle Codey, Emily Chancellor (capt), Ashley Marsters, Layne Morgan. Replacements: Tania Naden, Bree-Anna Browne, Asoiva (Eva) Karpani, Ashley Fernandez, Piper Duck, Samantha Wood, Cecilia Smith, Lori Cramer. Wales: Nel Metcalfe, Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Dallavalle, Courtney Keight, Lisa Neumann, Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Maisie Davies, Kelsey Jones, Donna Rose, Alaw Pyrs, Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (captain). Replacements: Molly Reardon, Katherine Baverstock, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Tilly Vucaj, Bryonie King, Seren Lockwood, Kayleigh Powell, Carys Cox.
Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'A different world' - Spain's transformation after World Cup fallout
The last time Spain played in the final of a major tournament, it was a watershed moment for the country. Not only did they win their first major women's trophy, but the players were about to find themselves at the centre of a sexism scandal. Instead of celebrating their historic World Cup victory in 2023, when they defeated England 1-0, Spain's triumph was overshadowed by controversy. But nearly two years later, La Roja are preparing to play the Lionesses once again in Sunday's Euro 2025 final. What has unfolded in the meantime? And how different has this tournament been for Spain? How did we get here? Just as Spain were getting ready to lift the World Cup trophy, Luis Rubiales - the country's football federation president - kissed striker Jenni Hermoso on the lips. It was a kiss that Rubiales said was consensual, but Hermoso said was not. What followed was a storm of criticism, widespread protests and a court case that found Rubiales guilty of sexual assault. Hermoso said the incident had "stained one of the happiest days" of her life. In the immediate aftermath, 81 players - including all 23 World Cup winners - said they would not play for Spain again while Rubiales was in charge. "It was a difficult period for the Spanish players," England midfielder Ella Toone said on Friday. "What they did in the World Cup, for that [the Rubiales incident] then to be the main talking point, I think was really tough for them and was something they shouldn't have had to go through." The boycott only ended almost a month later when Spain's football association, the RFEF, promised "profound changes" following a lengthy meeting with players and government officials. 'A different world' Speaking to BBC Sport last month, Amanda Gutierrez - the president of players' union Futpro - explained that the RFEF promised to improve the players' working conditions and provide equal access to the same resources the men's side had. But have those changes been evident at Euro 2025? "It's a different world," Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague said. "The players are saying 'we only have to worry now about playing', so that's completely new." Spain's performances have certainly reflected that attitude as they defeated Portugal, Belgium and Italy by a combined score of 14-3 in the group stage. Montse Tome's side then saw off a stubborn Switzerland side in the quarter-finals, before scoring an extra-time winner against eight-time winners Germany to reach their first European Championship final. Spain played 120 minutes in their semi-final and played a day later than England, but former midfielder Vicky Losada said their mental resilience will help them overcome their lack of recovery time. "Knowing them, straight after the game against Germany they will be thinking about doing anything they can to be ready for this game," Losada told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "They have 24 hours less to recover but the mental strength of the girls, because of their experience, because of all they have won, is massive. "The players on the team are winners. For a lot of them, the only major tournament they are missing is the Euros. They know they have one opportunity." Sara Alcaraz Guiterrez, a reporter for national Spanish radio, said this is the first tournament since the 2023 World Cup where she hasn't had to "speak about the federation and what is happening inside". "The players are more relaxed because they know everyone in Spain is speaking just about the Euros. It's like 'finally'." Final preview: England v Spain The kiss that shook Spanish & global football Spain's ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss 'Tome cannot do any better' Former coach Jorge Vilda may have delivered World Cup glory to Spain, but he will be remembered in a negative light by some for his role in their triumphant run. The head coach, who was booed by some fans after the final, had survived a player revolt before the tournament and was viewed as one of Rubiales' closest allies. By his side on the touchline was Montse Tome, his assistant coach who became his successor a few weeks after the World Cup final. There were concerns about her appointment, with many viewing it as a continuation of the previous regime, while she had no previous experience as a head coach. With Tome at the helm, Spain won the inaugural Women's Nations League in February 2024, but their fourth-place finish five months later at the Paris Olympics was deemed a failure. However, their journey to the Euro final, and the unity within the squad, seem to have changed perceptions of the former Spain midfielder. "She cannot do any better in terms of results," said Balague. "She's not friends with them [the players]. She's not supposed to be either. "You hear her talk and she makes a lot of sense. She's got a clear idea of how to maximize the potential. "She's not a representative of the previous regime, but she was present. Even if that's in the back of the mind of anybody, you look around and it's a completely different place. So I don't think there is a lot of hard feelings about where she's been, because she's been quite fair." 'The players want to move on' Not only is Sunday's final in Basel an opportunity for Spain to win their first European crown, but it's also a chance to celebrate achieving a major trophy without a cloud of controversy hanging over them. "It's something external that happened at the time," Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas said. "Now we're focused on giving our best to win this title. We're not thinking about celebrations or non-celebrations; we're only thinking about being prepared and doing well so that we can get closer to our goal." The culture within the Spanish camp also appears to have changed drastically from the World Cup in 2023, when they arrived in New Zealand with a divided squad amid a backdrop of unrest around then head coach Vilda. "The things have changed," Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati added. "There's a very healthy and united group. We can see that on the pitch. We all agree on this." Spain's Euro 2025 squad includes 11 World-Cup winning players, although Hermoso was not selected by Tome. Balague explained: "They want to move on, and it makes sense," "The players I've spoken to, they all have mixed feelings. They [Rubiales and the RFEF] took the celebrations away from them, but they changed our society and the way we think about women's football, and also women in society. "They have advanced society. Nobody will give them a trophy for that." Former Lionesses forward Ellen White was part of Sarina Wiegman's side beaten by Spain in the 2023 World Cup final, but said this group of Spanish players deserve their moment in the spotlight. "The controversy was so horrible. I felt for the whole team after the World Cup final," White told BBC Radio 5 Live. "They weren't able to celebrate and have that monumental moment. "This final brings them the chance to create absolute history. Enjoy it, have nothing else to think about and if they were to win to just bask in the absolute joy of winning a tournament together as a group of individuals. And hopefully the whole of Spain will be celebrating what they have done. "They deserve this. They have worked so hard and it would be an absolutely amazing moment for the whole team." The kiss that shook Spanish & global football Spain's ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss 'They had biggest moment of their careers stolen' - what next for Spain?

Yahoo
5 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Westchester softball team advances to Little League World Series
The softball team from Westchester Del Rey Little League won the West Regional in San Bernardino on Friday, beating Tucson 12-2 in a five-inning mercy rule to advance to the Little League World Series in Greenville, N.C. Pitcher Gabriela Uribe started the game with three scoreless innings and ended up finishing. After an early 2-2 tie, Westchester broke the game open. Westchester's pitching has been very good behind Uribe and Kaylee Braunlich. Paul Vogler is the team's coach. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.