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\u201cI was just doing my head in,\u201d he continued, tears floating at the bottom of his eyes. \u201cI needed a fight, and this opportunity came up. I\u2019ll be honest: I wasn\u2019t training as much as I should have, but I thought I had to do it. I had to take it. I\u2019m telling myself, \u2018It\u2019s meant to be.\u2019 I was struggling a little bit not fighting, doing my head in. I don\u2019t know how; everything\u2019s fine, I\u2019ve got a beautiful family. But, I don\u2019t know… I think you just need to keep busy. I need to be in camp, otherwise, I\u2019m going to do my head in. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s weird, [it\u2019s not that I] never \u2018believed in that stuff\u2019, but I never got it. It was something that \u2013 I don\u2019t know \u2013 maybe the more and more I learn about myself, the more I understand. I talked about us having a smile on my face, me and my wife. My wife could see it does get hard, I don\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Makhachev consoles Volkanovski after their fight, the main event of UFC 294<\/p>\n
Volkanovski pointed to the birth of his third child, in August, and surgery on an injury this summer as reasons why he had not been training. Clearly, the knock-on effect of those moments \u2013 as joyous as the former seemed to be \u2013 has led Volkanovski\u2019s mental health to suffer. Last week, all the talk was of how brave the Australian was to face Makhachev on short notice; braver was this admission that he is struggling, which simultaneously offers a different lens through which to view his choice to fight. Keeping himself engaged and busy is healthy, but that is complicated by the inherent risk in his profession. \u201cMaybe it was just a silly decision under the circumstances,\u201d he admitted. Perhaps it was, though it was also understandable. <\/p>\n
Volkanovski\u2019s next challenge, however, will come outside of the ring. It must. He naturally sees the antidote to his current struggles as a quick turnaround to fight again, likely against the dangerous Ilia Topuria in January. Yet, that fight could go the same way as Saturday\u2019s against Makhachev, if the Australian does not first tackle these thoughts and feelings, and find the right balance for him.<\/p>\n
We knew Alexander Volkanovski was brave. That is even clearer now than it was last week. Now, however, he must be sensible, and get to work outside the ring before he can return to work in it.<\/p>\n