It’s no secret that former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski’s fighting career has seen better days.
Volkanovski (26-4 MMA, 13-3 UFC), not long ago on a dominant title run and considered the pound-for-pound best in MMA, currently finds himself on a two-fight losing streak and 1-3 in his past four fights, with his two most recent defeats coming by knockout. It’s been a big fall for the Australian, and one that brought many existential questions to his career.
“You are going to ask yourself like, ‘All right, this is unfamiliar territory, an unfamiliar feeling. Have you lost it? What’s going on? You must not want it anymore,’” Volkanovski said in an interview with ESPN. “I was like, ‘No, not really. I remember that I have accepted that I’m having the break, but have you accepted that you’re done? ‘No, I haven’t. I’ll be back. I’ll flip the switch, but will you flip the switch?’ You know, you ask yourself these questions, but I always answer, ‘Relax, when the time comes, you will flip the switch. Don’t worry.’ But I guess you won’t know until you decide to do that.”
Volkanovski returns next month in the main event of UFC 314 in Miami as he takes on streaking contender Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title after Ilia Topuria decided to vacate his title in a move up to 155 pounds.
Ahead of the fight against Lopes (26-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC), Volkanovski has dialed everything in from diet to training. He’s made sure to leave no doubt that he’s done everything in his power to be ready for UFC 314.
“There were questions: Am I going to be able to flip the switch? Am I going to be the same guy once I flip that switch?” Volkanovski said. “We found out early because we started camp nice and early that we would. We’re kicking ass in the gym right now. The weight is ahead of schedule, and we’ve still got plenty of time.”
Some think the time has passed for Volkanovksi, who’s now 36, but he’s confident there’s plenty left in the tank – enough for another title reign.
“I’m going to get the belt back, I’m going to defend, and that’s just going to add to my legacy and add to the story,” Volkanovski said.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
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