{"id":215653,"date":"2023-10-22T13:56:15","date_gmt":"2023-10-22T13:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/?p=215653"},"modified":"2023-10-22T13:56:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T13:56:15","slug":"alexander-volkanovski-in-tears-and-has-to-pause-mid-sentence-as-he-opens-up-on-mental-health-struggles-before-ufc-294-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/sport\/alexander-volkanovski-in-tears-and-has-to-pause-mid-sentence-as-he-opens-up-on-mental-health-struggles-before-ufc-294-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Volkanovski in tears and has to pause mid-sentence as he opens up on mental health struggles before UFC 294 | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"
ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI was left in tears as he emotionally opened up on his mental health struggles before defeat at UFC 294.<\/p>\n
The featherweight champion filled in for Charles Oliveira on just 11 days' notice to rematch lightweight king Islam Makhachev in Abu Dhabi. <\/p>\n
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Volkanovski, 35, had been beaten by Makhachev, 31, on points in his initial 155lb title challenge in February but beat Yair Rodriguez in July.<\/p>\n
And the Australian legend revealed the mental battle he had fought during the three months of not being in training camp.<\/p>\n
Volkanovski said: "It is hard. It really is hard for athletes.<\/p>\n
"I never thought I'd struggle with it but for some reason when I wasn't fighting or in camp\u2026" <\/p>\n
Volkanovski had to pause to gather his thoughts before adding: "F***, sorry. It (not being in camp) was just doing my head in.<\/p>\n "So when this opportunity came up, I'll be honest I wasn't training as much as I should've, but I thought I had to do it.<\/p>\n "Had to take it. I thought it would be\u2026 I was telling myself it was meant to be. I was doing my head in not fighting.<\/p>\n "Don't know why. I've got a beautiful family. I think you just need to keep busy. So I ask the UFC to keep me busy.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n "I need to be in camp or I'm gunna do my head in. I'll leave it at that."<\/p>\n Oliveira, 34, was pulled out of facing Makhachev due to suffering a cut in sparring so Volkanovski agreed to step in on late notice.<\/p>\n He said: "Too many details, so I apologise for that.<\/p>\n "I think it (mental health issues) is a common thing, but it's OK to touch on it a little bit.<\/p>\n "Pretty much all I wanted to get out was that it was about much more than money."<\/p>\n<\/picture>BALLS UP <\/span><\/p>\n
UFC star's testicles 'swell to size of SATSUMAS' after ref accuses him of faking<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>MAKH OF THE HEAD <\/span><\/p>\n
McGregor reacts to controversial new footage from Makhachev's UFC 294 win<\/h3>\n
Most read in MMA<\/h2>\n
<\/picture>BALLS UP <\/span><\/p>\n
UFC star’s testicles ‘swell to size of SATSUMAS’ after ref accuses him of faking<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>PUSH & PULL <\/span><\/p>\n
Watch moment UFC ace SHOVES ref after waving off fight with Dana White involved<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>BLOOD AND CUTS <\/span><\/p>\n
Volkanovski suffers HORRIFIC cuts as he’s KO’d by Makhachev at UFC 294<\/h3>\n
<\/picture>MAKH DADDY <\/span><\/p>\n
Islam Makhachev knocks out Alexander Volkanovski with insane HEADKICK at UFC 294<\/h3>\n